AP – Barcelona has auctioned off a digital art piece depicting an iconic goal by Johan Cruyff for USD693,000 as it seeks new revenues to battle its way out of massive debt, the Spanish club said.
Barcelona said that the auction run by Sotheby’s in New York for the club’s first NFT, or non-fungible token, closed at USD550,000 on Friday. The auctioneer’s fees increased the final sale price to USD693,000.
The art piece depicts Cruyff’s memorable goal from 1973 when the Netherlands great soared through the air with his leg outstretched to score. In the image, Cruyff appears to be dipped in gold.
The NFT is called In a Way, Immortal, inspired by a quote by Cruyff, who left his mark as both a player and coach at Barcelona.
Barcelona has been searching for new forms of revenue as it struggles to pay down EUR1 billion of debt. That has included selling Camp Nou’s naming rights to the Spotify audio-streaming service and recently selling off 25 per cent of its Spanish league television rights for 25 years.
