Joan Laporta knew that Barcelona were in financial trouble long before he decided to fight for the club’s presidency again.
But on reflection, one can only assume that Laporta had no idea how bad things were under the former incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu – for sure, no person with a healthy mind would take a job that seems truly impossible.
To paint a horrible picture for you, Barcelona has large debts. Paralyzing guilt.
We are not talking about tens of millions of euros, nor hundreds of millions. Somehow the Catalan giants have dug themselves a financial hole that requires a cool € 1 billion to be picked from God knows where.
It’s a pretty extraordinary story about woe and frankly borders on being absolutely incredible. But for Barça’s bosses and especially for Laporta, it’s a very real situation, and it’s something that needs to be addressed immediately if they are going to put in the free transfers that they can not really afford to bring this summer.
A fire sale has already started at Camp Nou, but there is a whole web of stories to solve from Tuesday’s headlines …
Messi is officially out of contract with Barcelona / David Ramos / Getty Images
We start with the “good news”, right?
Although Barcelona’s financial accounts would suggest that the club is on the verge of collapse, President Laporta has told La Sexta (via Fabrizio Romano) that “everything is going well for Leo Messi’s contract.”
Yes, Messi is from now on without a contract at Camp Nou and basically a free agent. But is it really going well? We suggest that you do not.
To tie Messi to new terms, Barcelona must find a way to cut a full 170 million pounds from their salary budget, just so they can register new players Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Emerson.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has previously stated that Barça have exceeded their salary cap for the 2021/22 season, and they will not even be able to register Messi at this rate – because he would actually be classified as a “new signing” if he colors new terms.
Fernandes plans to sue Barcelona / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Forgive?
No, you have not read so wrong, Barcelona will be sued by Brazilian midfielder Matheus Fernandes for a breach of contract, after releasing the 23-year-old last week.
Barça signed his contract at Camp Nou after just 12 months, but Fernandes is preparing to take the club to court as he believes his dismissal was unfair. For the record, the club has claimed that they had the right to terminate his deal if they felt he did not appear at a sufficiently high level.
Maybe this would not have happened if Barça had not told him by e-mail that the remaining four years of his deal went against the shredder!
Griezmann may be the highest profile accident at Barça / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Do you remember Messi’s ‘good news’ from earlier that had a little warning? Yes, there is more bad news on that front, especially if you are Antoine Griezmann.
The word on the street in Spain (from AS, specifically) is that there is absolutely no way Barcelona can afford to have both Messi and Griezmann on the book next season, and if it is a straightforward decision between the pair you can guarantee the Frenchman will be the one who sacrifices.
The problem for Barça is that they are likely to find that many of their top earners – Miralem Pjanic, Samuel Umtiti and other Griezmann players – are simply affordable for almost every club around the world, especially in a coronavirus-affected transfer market. .
Manchester City have been named potential suitors for Griezmann if they miss Harry Kane, but it is probably wise to take that information with a lot of pinch of salt. So much for those decisions, Antoine.
Junior Firpo departure confirmed / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
A player who has already left Camp Nou on a permanent basis is exciting backback Junior Firpo.
He has signed a four-year deal with Leeds and joined Marcelo Bielsa’s “Murderball” revolution for about 13 million pounds. Barcelona has also negotiated a 20% sales clause.
Firpo only started three La Liga matches for Ronald Koeman last season, so it’s no surprise to see him among the first players sent out the door.
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