Barcelona receive unexpected financial boost

La Liga giants Barcelona have come in for an altogether unpredicted boost on the financial front.

That’s according to Diario Sport, citing Mexican sources, who point towards the recent departure of Rafael Márquez as having given rise to a not-insignificant payout.

Former Blaugrana defender Marquez of course called time on his coaching stint in Catalunya’s capital this past weekend.

Just days out from Barca Atlètic kicking their pre-season training schedule into gear, the 45-year-old was convinced to move on.

Marquez, instead, has taken up the role of assistant manager with the Mexican national team, with a view to replacing Javier Aguirre in the lead coaching role after the 2026 World Cup.

As much marked a heavy blow for those behind the scenes at Barcelona, who had just recently convinced their ex-stopper to continue in his role through the summer of 2025.

As alluded to above, though, Marquez’s departure was not all negative for the Camp Nou hierarchy.

As per the aforementioned Sport, the cash-strapped Catalans were the recipients of a tidy monetary gain, as part of their agreement with the Mexican Football Federation.

‘According to various sources, the Mexican Football Federation had to face a financial penalty to execute the termination clause that would release the FC Barcelona coach.

‘Barça received between 3 and 3.5 million dollars.’

Conor Laird | GSFN