Financial problems are still there to hamper Barcelona’s season despite all the tricks and monetary magic performed by president Joan Laporta and his staff. As a result, La Liga still hasn’t given the club the green light to register their $55 million-defender Jules Kounde, the recent recruit from Sevilla. The 23-year-old Frenchman remains the only Barcelona close-season signing who is yet to be registered.Meanwhile, coach Xavi has continued to leave out Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite from his squad to take to San Sebastian, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay have been included. Sergino Dest, who failed to make the matchday squad for the Rayo Vallecano game last Saturday, has also been omitted from this weekend’s travelling party.🚨 There is a clause in Jules Koundé’s contract that allows him to leave Barcelona for free if the club cannot register him before the end of the transfer window. 🔓 (Source: @AdriaSoldevila) pic.twitter.com/nTU68VY6sV— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 20, 2022 Xavi endured a poor goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano on the first day of the season but is made to think about financial problems rather than preparing his team. He admitted that Kounde would have to wait before making his official debut for the club.”At the moment, we don’t know anything. We are on standby. We are waiting. Kounde is a great leader and a great player. He has trained very well, I see him in good spirits, but we need to sell players to be able to register him.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6580612##According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Kounde is growing frustrated with the situation and is looking to have it resolved. Reports suggest that Barcelona’s coaching staff understand him and his concerns and have reassured him that there will be no problem for next Sunday against Real Valladolid.Barca need to comply with La Liga’s salary cap rules to register Kounde, and potential sales of strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay could make this possible. However, both players have been included in the squad for the Sociedad game – putting their potential exits in doubt.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 2FridayEspanyol – Rayo Vallecano 0-2 (0-1)/Palazon 40, Ciss 59/Sevilla – Valladolid 1-1 (0-0)/Rekik 86 – Anuar 80/SaturdayOsasuna – Cadiz 2-0 (1-0)/Avila 37 pen, Garcia 79 pen/Mallorca – Betis 1-2 (0-1)/Muriqi 56 – Iglesias 9 pen, 73 pen/Celta Vigo – Real Madrid 1-4 (1-2)/Aspas 23 pen – Benzema 14 pen, Modric 41, Vinicius Jr 56, Valverde 66/Sunday 18.30: (1.80) Ath.Bilbao (3.60) Valencia (5.20)20.30: (1.90) Atl.Madrid (3.45) Villareal (4.20)23.00: (3.60) Sociedad (3.50) Barcelona (2.15)***odds are subject to change
