FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona

For over a decade, the back of the Barcelona shirt has been a space dedicated to social causes rather than commercial gain. Since 2012, the space below the number has been occupied by UNICEF, and later by UNHCR since the summer of 2022. Far from generating revenue, these partnerships actually saw the club pay €400,000 per season to the UN agency. However, with the UNHCR contract expiring this summer, the club has decided to monetise this asset for the first time.

It has been reported recently that one of Ecuador's most promising talents, Ederson Castillo, is in Barcelona. The youngster is undergoing a trial at the club and will be here for a few days. In the backdrop, his agent Peter Graetzer is also in Barcelona ahead of a potential meeting between him and the club, Mundo Deportivo reports. The agent confirmed his presence in the city by posting a story on his Instagram account. He appeared to be near Barcelona's training facilities at Ciutat Esportiva.

Barcelona are already laying the groundwork for next season, and one high-profile attacking name continues to feature prominently in their internal discussions. According to a recent report from MARCA, Barcelona remain interested in Julian Alvarez, despite the striker not enjoying his most productive campaign with Atletico Madrid. It is known that Barcelona's sporting management is actively developing a roadmap for the attacking unit ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Gianluigi Longari (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Andres Cuenca, a left-footed centre-back and one of the most promising defensive prospects at FC Barcelona, has attracted interest from clubs in Serie A. Cuenca, 18, is part of the Barça Atletic setup currently, while he has already made his senior debut for the Blaugrana under Hansi Flick during the 2024/25 season.

FC Barcelona are already busy with their squad planning for the next season, with major focus on two major areas - the centre-back and striker positions. A left-footed central defender remains a top priority, while at the same time, the club are looking to solidify their options in the No. 9 department. Robert Lewandowski's future remains uncertain, which is why other top options like Julian Alvarez and Harry Kane are being considered.

Barcelona's 'Shark' is now the team's top scorer in the 2025-26 season and has 11 goals in La Liga, two in the Champions League and one each in the Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. He's the only Barca player to have scored in all four competitions. For all the criticism he's received and the doubts that hang over him still, there's simply no denying that 15 goals from 26 outings is a very good return.

Although the season is only at its halfway point, the sporting department of FC Barcelona is already working on shaping the squad for next season. No final decisions have been taken yet, but a clear roadmap has been drawn up regarding the attacking unit. As has already been reported, Barça intend to retain Marcus Rashford's services beyond this season. The Catalans have a €30 million purchase option for the Manchester United loanee, although they might look to negotiate a lower fee.

The 37-year-old centre-forward has accepted a reduced role this season, with Hansi Flick counting on Ferran Torres more and more, but has continued to contribute in a significant way, creating a quandary for the club. The Blaugrana see that his performances remain good, that he continues to score goals and has accepted that he is no longer an undisputed starter.

According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona are closely following the progress of Neil El Aynaoui, a midfielder who is currently enjoying an impressive spell with AS Roma. El Aynaoui, 24, is viewed as a player capable of contributing immediately while still offering long-term value. That dual profile is precisely what makes him appealing to Barcelona, a club that continues to search for balance between short-term competitiveness and sustainable squad building.

Despite that, Racing have decided to honour tradition and sporting values by forming a guard of honour before kick-off, a gesture that has drawn attention given recent debates elsewhere. Defending the decision firmly, the coach said, "I don't care what other people think. "We are professionals, and it is good club manners to form a guard of honour for any team that has won a title, be it Barça, Madrid, Atlético... whoever it may be." While respect is clear, realism also plays a role in Racing's preparation. Jose Alberto acknowledged the gap between the two teams and hinted that rotation could be part of his plan.

The former president argues that Real Madrid are attempting to exploit the legal proceedings to obtain private documents and gain access to privileged information about Barcelona. As mentioned earlier, Real Madrid asked for audits from the last eight years and annual accounts covering the entire 18-year period (2001 to 2018) during which payments were made to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees.