Barcelona and PSG Rebuild Ties Through European Football Clubs

Years of rivalry between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have given way to closer institutional cooperation, as the two clubs strengthen their relationship through European Football Clubs (EFC), formerly known as the European Club Association. The shift has brought Barcelona president Joan Laporta and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi closer together ahead of their teams' meeting at the Parc des Princes, while speculation has emerged about Laporta potentially becoming an EFC vice president next season.

According to AS, the improved relationship follows a prolonged period of disputes involving sponsorship, high-profile transfers and competing positions over European football governance. The clubs have increasingly sought to avoid public confrontations over player negotiations while developing closer ties within the organization.

Their conflict intensified during the 2016-17 season after Barcelona ended its relationship with Qatar Airways as its principal sponsor in November 2016 and signed a deal with Rakuten. PSG subsequently defeated Barcelona 4-0 in Paris in the Champions League round of 16, but Barcelona overturned the deficit with a historic 6-1 victory at Camp Nou.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was angered by the result and criticized the refereeing of Deniz Aytekin. AS quoted him as saying, "The result should have been different…"

The dispute deepened in the summer of 2017 when Barcelona pursued Italian midfielder Marco Verratti. After a newspaper cover promoted the prospect of his arrival, Al-Khelaifi refused to let the player leave, renewed his contract and demanded that he part ways with his representative, Donato di Campli. The representative had described Verratti as "a prisoner of the emir."

PSG then signed Neymar by activating his 222 million euro release clause, following meetings with the Brazilian forward's father in Sao Paulo and Mallorca, according to AS. Neymar's departure dealt a major blow to Barcelona and intensified tensions between the clubs.

The rivalry continued in subsequent years, including when Xavi Simmons left Barcelona's La Masia academy for PSG in 2019. In 2021, during Barcelona's presidential election campaign, Laporta criticized PSG's ownership model as speculation grew that the Parisian club wanted to sign Lionel Messi.

Laporta contrasted Barcelona's member-owned structure with PSG's state-backed model and questioned whether the French club could afford Messi. Al-Khelaifi responded that Messi's contract was due to expire in June and that the player was free to speak with any club. Messi ultimately joined PSG.

The relationship began to improve after Laporta gradually distanced Barcelona from the European Super League project. On October 8, 2025, Laporta embraced Al-Khelaifi at the Cavalieri hotel in Rome during an EFC gala dinner, an encounter AS identified as a turning point in relations between the clubs.

Since then, both sides have sought to manage transfer discussions without reviving their earlier disputes. In January 2026, PSG agreed to pay Barcelona 8 million euros for Dro Fernandez rather than trigger his 6 million euro release clause, according to AS. The arrangement allowed the clubs to avoid a public confrontation despite the move displeasing Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

A similar approach followed during the summer of 2026, when PSG coach Luis Enrique contacted Ferran Torres to express interest in the forward. PSG asked Barcelona for permission to negotiate, and the discussions concluded at a fee close to 50 million euros, AS reported.

The improved relationship has also fueled speculation that Laporta could secure the EFC vice presidency at next season's assembly. The two presidents are scheduled to meet again at the Parc des Princes as Barcelona and PSG face each other in a Champions League showcase.