🚨Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohamed Bin Salman linked with shock takeover of European giants
A huge rumor has emerged from Spain suggesting that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is weighing up a historic €10 billion offer to acquire La Liga giants.
The potential move, which would shatter all previous records for sports club valuations, comes as the Catalan giants continue to grapple with a crippling debt crisis estimated to exceed €2.5 billion.
While the reports have sent shockwaves through the footballing world, any potential deal faces significant structural hurdles due to Barcelona’s unique, fan-owned model.
Saudi Prince wants to takeover Barcelona
According to claims circulating in Spanish media, specifically from journalist François Gallardo on the popular program El Chiringuito, the Saudi Crown Prince is prepared to table a staggering €10 billion bid to assume control of the club.
The offer is viewed by some as a “golden parachute” that would instantly wipe out Barcelona’s debilitating debts and restore their ability to compete financially with state-backed rivals like Manchester City and PSG.
However, the path to a full takeover is fraught with complications. Unlike most Premier League clubs, Barcelona are not a private limited company but are owned by its members, known as socios.
Any sale or change in ownership structure would require a majority vote from these members, a historically proud group that has fiercely resisted foreign investment.
Financial experts suggest a more feasible alternative could be the split model.
This would involve the club separating its commercial and entertainment arms from the sporting side, allowing the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to purchase a massive stake in the commercial entity.
This would inject billions into the club without technically buying the football team itself, navigating the strict socio by-laws.
Growing Saudi influence in global football
If this interest materialises into a formal bid, it would mark the most significant chapter yet in Saudi Arabia’s rapid expansion into global sport.
The Kingdom has already firmly established its presence through the Public Investment Fund’s acquisition of Newcastle United and the transformation of the Saudi Pro League into a destination for elite talent.
With Saudi Arabia already securing the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the country’s strategy has shifted from domestic development to establishing a dominant global footprint.
Owning a stake in FC Barcelona, one of the biggest brand in world football, would cement the Gulf nation’s status as the sport’s new primary power broker, shifting the center of gravity further away from Europe’s traditional elite.