Barcelona is a big club with even bigger financial problems. But they aren’t just lying there waiting for Judgment Day. No, they have got wise businessmen working there. And their latest decision is to open a big store and sell their club-branded merchandise deep in enemy territory – in the centre of Madrid.If you happen to walk the Calle Arenal, one of the streets in the busy tourist area of the Spanish capital, you’ll see unexpected colours there. Not white of Real Madrid, not red and white associated with Atletico Madrid or Rayo Vallecano. No, you’ll see the famous Blaugrana colours.##NAJAVA_MECA_6854241##After opening numerous stores in Barcelona, Barca is looking to expand outside of Catalonia, and the chosen location has been Madrid. Their marketing department vice-president will be in Madrid to officially open the club’s store in an attempt to get some more income for the troubled club. After all, they will need some cash to pay all those players they brought in over the last transfer window.Some might say that opening Barca’s store in the capital is nothing more than a payback to Real Madrid, who have opened their own store in the heart of Las Ramblas in Barcelona’s city centre. There’s even a giant model of their Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for shoppers to admire and have their photos taken. It’s just another part of the legendary rivalry.These are just some of the items available in Barca’s store (©FC Barcelona)The question has to be asked whether offering Barca’s merchandise in Madrid is akin to trying to sell sand to Bedouins in the Sahara. But there is a plan: to sell stuff to numerous tourists who come to the Spanish capital from abroad. After all, they don’t care about the long-standing rivalry between the most successful clubs in the country. They just look to spend some cash.Speaking of cash, here is what the prices will be, converted to Kenyan Shillings. If you’re looking for an iconic Blaugrana shirt with the name of young star Ansu Fati, you’ll have to pay KSh15,855. A football with Barcelona’s badge will set you back KSh3,552. And if you want to buy a raincoat for your dog (yes, you read that right), it’s only KSh4,947.
