Mallorca vs. Barcelona: Will Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford be available for La Liga opener?

Barcelona are allegedly currently working on registering Joan Garcia for Saturday's La Liga game against Mallorca, with Marcus Rashford potentially being made to wait to make his debut for the Catalan giants.

Hansi Flick's side paid £21m to sign Garcia from Espanyol earlier this summer, and the Spain international is set to be the club's number one goalkeeper, even when Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns from a back injury.

However, the 24-year-old is not currently registered with La Liga for Saturday's opener against Mallorca.

The same can also be said for Rashford, who has joined Barcelona on an initial loan deal from Manchester United, with the move potentially becoming permanent during next summer's transfer window.

According to Marca, Garcia is currently the club's 'priority registration', and he is expected to be able to take to the field against Mallorca, but Rashford may have to wait to make his first competitive appearance.

Barcelona are yet to register Garcia, Rashford

Barcelona have been in a long-term battle with La Liga over player registrations due to their financial problems.

Indeed, the club had to ultimately sell VIP boxes at their new revamped Camp Nou stadium in order to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor last season, although the latter has now left the club.

Ter Stegen is one of the highest earners at Barcelona, but the Germany international is out for approximately four months due to a back injury, and it remains to be seen whether the funds for his wages can be used elsewhere.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently told reporters: "We're working to make it happen. With Marc's [ter Stegen] 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."

'Drastic action' taken in a bid to register new signings

According to The Athletic, Barcelona's executives have put their own personal wealth at risk as part of a bank guarantee worth £6m, which also occurred in December 2023.

As a result, Barcelona may now be able to register Garcia and Rashford, in addition to returning goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin, with the latter now a permanent part of the first-team squad.

Barcelona head coach Flick will name his squad for Saturday's game against Mallorca on Friday, so the Catalan outfit still have time to register their new players, but it will be a race against the clock.