Barcelona president Joan Laporta admits that Marcus Rashford may not be registered before the start of the new La Liga season, but is hopeful the issue will be resolved.
Rashford made his loan move from Manchester United to Barcelona last month and has already featured in pre-season friendlies for the Catalan giants.
The England international played on Sunday against Como, providing a quality assist for Raphinha but also bizarrely missing an open goal.
Barcelona get their La Liga campaign underway at Mallorca on Saturday and Rashford hopes to be involved, but there is still some doubt as to whether he will be registered in time.
The 27-year-old is yet to be registered to play in La Liga as Barcelona continue to try and navigate their perilous financial situation.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
In The Mixer: Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every week – sign up, it’s an open goal.
The Spanish top flight has financial fair play rules which Barcelona struggle to comply with in terms of their salary and they are trying to find of a way of getting Rashford and other summer signings to be registered within the restrictions.
Joan Garcia has also been signed from Espanyol this summer, as has Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen.
There has been a strange situation with goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen this summer that has now been resolved as the German agreed to sign a medical consent form after back surgery, allowing Barcelona to free up half of his wages as he will be out for at least four months.
Ter Stegen had refused to do so initially and the club threatened legal action against him.
With that sorted, Laporta is hopeful that other players can be registered, but is not certain it will be done this week.
‘We’re working to make it happen,’ Laporta told TV3. ‘With Marc’s decision, we have the option of registering Joan Garcia, and we’re working on the rest.
‘This week we’ll have news, hopefully good news, to see if we can register them before La Liga starts. And if we can’t, we have time.’
If the registrations are not sorted out this week, Barcelona can do so before the end of August, although the start of the season will be missed.
Speaking earlier this month on the subject, Rashford said: ‘It’s something for the club to sort out. I believe they are going to get it sorted. I just focus on training and be ready for the start of the season.’
Laporta hailed Ter Stegen after the stand-off between club and player, saying: ‘We’re looking forward. Marc is our captain, I think he’s been excellent.
‘What was left has been resolved. He said some sincere words, I think, and I think the fans needed this, to see the captain leading the way. He’s been with Barca for 12 seasons, won a Champions League, and besides being an excellent goalkeeper, he’s an excellent person, and I’m especially happy that he’s the captain.’