Barcelona: the richest club in the world struggling to make ends meet
4 years, 9 months ago

Barcelona: the richest club in the world struggling to make ends meet

New York Times  

“Barca is the top sporting brand in the world,” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu proudly told a group of distinguished Catalan politicians and businessmen on February 12. Two years later, Messi was world football’s biggest earner on £9.2 million a year, before bonuses, while bumper contracts also persuaded peers including Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta to stay at home as Pep Guardiola’s team swept all before them, including an historic treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies. Barca is the best team in the world and deserves the best directors.” Faus’ faux-pas signalled his end at the club and, the following June, Messi agreed a new deal roughly doubling his wages to £39.5 million gross per season. All this saw Barca also become the highest-paying team in any global sport, with each player making an average of over £10.4 million per season, per Sporting Intelligence’s 2018 Global Sports Salaries Survey. Last January, the club’s website happily headlined a story “Barca tops Deloitte’s Football Money League for the first time”.

World Players Club Million Sporting Messi Saw Barca Catalan Laporta Doraemon Bartomeu Faus  faus  players  barcelona  richest  meet  messi  saw  world  club  ends  bartomeu  clubs  barca  million  sporting  struggling

History of this topic

Barcelona can’t afford players like Mbappe, Haaland, says Xavi
1 year ago

Barcelona can’t afford players like Mbappe, Haaland, says Xavi

The Hindu  

Barcelona can no longer afford to shell out huge sums in transfer fees for top players like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, coach Xavi Hernandez said. Barcelona forked out fees in excess of 100 million euros for Philippe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele between 2017-19, but the club’s financial issues mean it is unlikely to splurge on big new …

“Leo wants to return to Barca,” says Messi’s father Jorge after meeting club president Laporta
1 year, 7 months ago

“Leo wants to return to Barca,” says Messi’s father Jorge after meeting club president Laporta

The Hindu  

After a meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi said his son was keen on a Barcelona return. “Leo wants to return to Barcelona, and I’d love to see him back,” Jorge told journalist Toni Juanmartí. Barcelona theoretically was also an option, being the club where he grew up and thrived for nearly two …

Barcelona Will 'Do Everything Possible' to Sign Lionel Messi: Joan Laporta
1 year, 7 months ago

Barcelona Will 'Do Everything Possible' to Sign Lionel Messi: Joan Laporta

News 18  

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Monday the club will “do everything possible” to bring Argentine superstar Lionel Messi back in the close season. “The truth is that it was a very affectionate conversation, very pleasant, and we have also been sending each other messages lately — I congratulated him on the World Cup.” In the early hours of Monday …

Barcelona will ‘do everything possible’ to sign Messi: Laporta
1 year, 7 months ago

Barcelona will ‘do everything possible’ to sign Messi: Laporta

The Hindu  

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said on Monday the club will “do everything possible” to bring Argentine superstar Lionel Messi back in the close season. “The truth is that it was a very affectionate conversation, very pleasant, and we have also been sending each other messages lately -- I congratulated him on the World Cup.” In the early hours of Monday …

Barcelona Must Shed Veterans to Balance Books: Club Official
2 years, 3 months ago

Barcelona Must Shed Veterans to Balance Books: Club Official

News 18  

Barcelona won’t be able to reduce its salary burden to sustainable levels until several veteran players finish their contracts, the club’s financial vice president said on Thursday. While presenting the budget for this season, Eduard Romeu warned it will likely take another two seasons before Barcelona is able to get its player salary load within manageable limits. Barcelona finished the …

Debt-ridden Barcelona was king of the 2022 transfer window, but at what cost?
2 years, 4 months ago

Debt-ridden Barcelona was king of the 2022 transfer window, but at what cost?

The Hindu  

If every football transfer deadline day had played out in a physical market, one would notice distinct characters caught in the mad rush to complete deals before the window slammed shut. To sum up Barcelona’s troubles, the club’s debt rose to €1.3 billion last year, and having crossed a stipulated ‘salary limit’, the club was blocked by the Spanish league …

Barcelona's excellent pre-season has left fans dreaming but there is still plenty of work to do
2 years, 5 months ago

Barcelona's excellent pre-season has left fans dreaming but there is still plenty of work to do

Daily Mail  

Barcelona's club shop almost ran out of the letter W on Sunday night as demand for Robert Lewandowski's shirt went beyond even the club's expectations. Barcelona's thumping win over Pumas at the Nou Camp has left optimism high for the season But the club's perilous financial position means there is still work to do for Joan Laporta Club president Joan …

Barcelona sells part of its production hub for $102M
2 years, 5 months ago

Barcelona sells part of its production hub for $102M

Associated Press  

BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona has sold part of its production hub for 100 million euros to boost its finances in a bid to use its newly signed players right away. Club president Joan Laporta announced Monday the club sold a 25% stake of Barça Studios to Socios.com, a blockchain provider in the sports and entertainment business. The money should also …

How is Barcelona FC Trying to get its Finances Back on Track
2 years, 10 months ago

How is Barcelona FC Trying to get its Finances Back on Track

News 18  

Barcelona is back in the second tier of European football after nearly two decades of contending among the elite in the Champions League, a blow to its prestige and a further hit to its dire financial situation. DEBTS The club’s debt reached a whopping 1.3 billion euros, including almost 390 million euros related to player salaries and more than 670 …

EXPLAINER: How Barcelona tries to get finances back on track
2 years, 10 months ago

EXPLAINER: How Barcelona tries to get finances back on track

Associated Press  

MADRID — Barcelona is back in the second tier of European soccer after nearly two decades contending among the elite in the Champions League, a blow to its prestige and a further hit to its dire financial situation. DEBTS The club’s debt reached a whopping 1.3 billion euros, including almost 390 million euros related to player salaries and more than …

'No mismanagement, we didn't leave a poor legacy,' insists ex-Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu
3 years, 2 months ago

'No mismanagement, we didn't leave a poor legacy,' insists ex-Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu

Firstpost  

Josep Bartomeu said that most of the club’s financial woes had been caused by the impact of the pandemic, which closed down Camp Nou for more than a year and reduced other sources of revenue. “The club is viable, it has many resources to get out of this problem, and without the pandemic it would have only had 50 million …

Bartomeu defends running of Barcelona under his presidency
3 years, 2 months ago

Bartomeu defends running of Barcelona under his presidency

The Hindu  

The former president of Spanish club Barcelona on Friday denied accusations by the current leadership that his board had left the team on the brink of bankruptcy because of poor management. “The club is viable, it has many resources to get out of this problem, and without the pandemic it would have only had 50 million euros in losses in …

Barcelona says audit shows club was technically bankrupt
3 years, 3 months ago

Barcelona says audit shows club was technically bankrupt

The Hindu  

Barcelona was technically bankrupt when president Joan Laporta took over earlier this year, the club said Wednesday. Reverter said the audit concluded that “there have been serious administrative deficiencies” during the administration of Bartomeu, who in the past has denied being responsible for the team’s current financial struggles. Reverter said the club will bet on the youngsters from Barcelona's famed …

Barcelona says audit shows club was technically bankrupt
3 years, 3 months ago

Barcelona says audit shows club was technically bankrupt

Associated Press  

MADRID — Barcelona was technically bankrupt when president Joan Laporta took over earlier this year, the club said Wednesday. Reverter said the audit concluded that “there have been serious administrative deficiencies” during the administration of Bartomeu, who in the past has denied being responsible for the team’s current financial struggles. Reverter said the club will bet on the youngsters from …

LaLiga: Barcelona president Joan Laporta says club's debt now stands at $1.6 billion
3 years, 4 months ago

LaLiga: Barcelona president Joan Laporta says club's debt now stands at $1.6 billion

Firstpost  

The club lost star player Messi to Paris Saint-Germain this month because it could not give him a new contract that would fit within the Spanish league’s strict financial fair-play regulations. Joan Laporta blamed the previous administration of Josep Bartomeu for the club’s “dramatic” situation that ultimately led to Lionel Messi’s departure. “We have found ourselves in a difficult situation …

Barcelona’s president says club’s debt now at $1.6 billion
3 years, 4 months ago

Barcelona’s president says club’s debt now at $1.6 billion

Associated Press  

MADRID — Barcelona’s president presented a grim picture of the club’s financial situation on Monday, saying its debt had risen to 1.35 billion euros. Laporta said the club had losses of 481 million euros and was left with a negative net worth of 451 million euros, making it difficult to negotiate with players. “We have found ourselves in a difficult …

Explained | Why was Messi forced to leave Barça?
3 years, 4 months ago

Explained | Why was Messi forced to leave Barça?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On August 10, Paris Saint-Germain signed Lionel Messi on a two-year contract, bringing an end to a glittering 17-year-career for the Argentine superstar at Barcelona that saw him win 35 trophies, including 10 league titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns, and the Ballon d'Or award for the world’s best player six times. Barcelona president Joan …

Firstpost Explains: Who is responsible for Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona after 21 years?
3 years, 5 months ago

Firstpost Explains: Who is responsible for Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona after 21 years?

Firstpost  

Lionel Messi joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain after 21 years with Barcelona. I never imagined having to say goodbye as I didn’t think about it.” Up until then, many Barcelona faithfuls wished there was a possibility that Messi could stay. After 21 years, 17 seasons with the first time, 778 appearances, 672 goals, 10 league titles, six Ballons d’Or, …

Who is to blame for Messi’s exit from Barcelona?
3 years, 5 months ago

Who is to blame for Messi’s exit from Barcelona?

Al Jazeera  

Is it Barcelona’s leadership and its mismanagement of the club or La Liga’s tough regulation rules? Barcelona President Joan Laporta blamed the club’s failure to re-sign Messi on La Liga’s refusal to bend its rules, but Barca happily signed up to these regulations in 2013 along with the 19 other La Liga clubs. A structural problem Barcelona has clearly been …

Finances don’t add up, but can Barcelona and La Liga afford not to keep Lionel Messi?
3 years, 5 months ago

Finances don’t add up, but can Barcelona and La Liga afford not to keep Lionel Messi?

Live Mint  

News of Lionel Messi's departure is a hammer blow for Barcelona, but it is also a disaster for the prestige of La Liga. Now Messi is apparently on his way too, with Barcelona unable to extend the contract of the 34-year-old Argentinian superstar, their dire economic predicament falling foul of La Liga's financial fair play rules. "Messi was the last …

Messi considering other offers, says Barcelona president
3 years, 5 months ago

Messi considering other offers, says Barcelona president

Deccan Chronicle  

Barcelona: Barcelona's negotiations with Lionel Messi are over and the striker is considering other offers, the club's president Joan Laporta said on Friday. Laporta said in a press conference he was not prepared "to put the club at risk" by renewing Messi's contract, with Barca facing huge financial problems ahead of the start of La Liga. "We could not accommodate …

Club above everything- Joan Laporta on not being able to resign Lionel Messi
3 years, 5 months ago

Club above everything- Joan Laporta on not being able to resign Lionel Messi

The Hindu  

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta said on Friday that the club was unable to re-sign Lionel Messi as it had no margin to pay more under La Liga's Financial Fair Play rules. Laporta said that the club had agreed two deals with Messi, firstly a two-year deal made payable over five, and then a five-year deal. The Barca chief also …

Lionel Messi contract: New deal delayed by La Liga financial controls, says Barca president
3 years, 6 months ago

Lionel Messi contract: New deal delayed by La Liga financial controls, says Barca president

The Hindu  

Barcelona's attempts to offer Lionel Messi a new contract are being held up because of La Liga's financial control measures, the club's president, Joan Laporta, said on Thursday after the Argentine became a free agent. While Laporta said the club's all-time top scorer wishes to stay, he added their attempts to tie him to a new deal had to fit …

Barca need huge makeover but black hole in finances means overhaul impossible
3 years, 10 months ago

Barca need huge makeover but black hole in finances means overhaul impossible

New York Times  

During the frantic closing stages at the Nou Camp in last night’s Champions League last-16 game, it was former Middlesbrough and Leganes forward Martin Braithwaite who came closest to getting a goal back for Barcelona, with his team already trailing 4-1 to a rampant Paris Saint-Germain. Sat in the stands looking on glumly were Barca legends Sergio Busquets and Gerard …

LaLiga: Barcelona presidential candidates Joan Laporta, Victor Font say Lionel Messi 'generates more' than he earns
3 years, 11 months ago

LaLiga: Barcelona presidential candidates Joan Laporta, Victor Font say Lionel Messi 'generates more' than he earns

Firstpost  

Barcelona: Two of the candidates in Barcelona’s presidential election, Joan Laporta and Victor Font, insisted on Monday that Lionel Messi “generates more” than he earns, after his “colossal” club contract was published in a Spanish newspaper. “Leo generates much more income than the money he costs,” Joan Laporta, who is seeking to regain the presidency, told Rac1 radio. On Sunday, …

LaLiga: ‘Not worried about Barcelona’s financial crisis,’ says league president Javier Tebas as club inches towards bankruptcy
3 years, 11 months ago

LaLiga: ‘Not worried about Barcelona’s financial crisis,’ says league president Javier Tebas as club inches towards bankruptcy

Firstpost  

“Big clubs like Barcelona are in heavy debts because they depend on revenues from ticketing and museums, something that they just couldn’t generate last year. Allaying concerns raised by mediapersons in a virtual press conference, Tebas said that “debt doesn’t mean anything” if the club’s revenue-generation capabilities are sound. The Spanish clubs introduced pay cuts to counter mounting losses, and …

Barcelona – a club on the precipice
4 years ago

Barcelona – a club on the precipice

New York Times  

“Barcelona is in limbo, with a total lack of direction on all sides,” a hugely important figure from the club’s history tells The Athletic. “It comes from this idea that Barca is ‘mes que un club’,” Iturriaga says. “Nearly a third of Barca’s socios would sell Messi tomorrow, for financial reasons, but there are others who value other things,” says …

Messi's departure jeopardizes Barcelona's restructuring plan
4 years, 4 months ago

Messi's departure jeopardizes Barcelona's restructuring plan

The Hindu  

Lionel Messi’s surprise decision to leave Barcelona has dealt a blow to the club’s restructuring project even before it began. Messi hasn’t been happy with club directors all season, and he apparently also didn’t like when incoming coach Ronald Koeman began telling some key players they were not in his plans. Newly arrived forward Francisco Trincao one of the many …

Lionel Messi may have set off the wildest bidding war in sports
4 years, 4 months ago

Lionel Messi may have set off the wildest bidding war in sports

Live Mint  

With an official letter sent on an offseason Tuesday, one of the greatest soccer players of all time sent the sport into a frenzy: Lionel Messi told FC Barcelona he wants to quit the club. Manchester City, owned by a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, could reunite him with the manager who shepherded Messi to the pinnacle of soccer …

Ex-Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes club want to SELL Lionel Messi
4 years, 4 months ago

Ex-Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes club want to SELL Lionel Messi

Daily Mail  

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has accused the club of wanting to sell Lionel Messi. Laporta who won two European Cups under two different coaches when he led the club from 2003 to 2010 and intends to stand in elections next March. I suspect they want to sell Messi.’ Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes the club are trying to …

Former Barcelona president 'scared' Lionel Messi could leave club
4 years, 5 months ago

Former Barcelona president 'scared' Lionel Messi could leave club

India TV News  

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he is concerned about talismanic captain Lionel Messi's future at the club and that he could leave due to 'a bad decision' of the current board. It was earlier reported in Spanish media that Messi had stopped contract negotiations with Barcelona amid reports of growing tensions within the club. "I want him to stay …

What’s going wrong at Barcelona?
4 years, 6 months ago

What’s going wrong at Barcelona?

New York Times  

Anyone who has watched Barcelona much lately — especially away from the Nou Camp — will not have been too surprised on Saturday when Iago Aspas made it 2-2 for Celta Vigo with two minutes to play. Coutinho at his Barcelona unveiling after joining from Liverpool The 2018-19 season involved €129 million being spent on new players — including Malcom, …

Six Barcelona board directors step down
4 years, 9 months ago

Six Barcelona board directors step down

The Hindu  

Spanish La Liga champion Barcelona was in turmoil on Friday after six board directors resigned criticising the club's handling of a social media scandal and the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis. READ | They asked Bartomeu to call presidential elections as soon as possible and criticised the club for hiring a third party, 13 Ventures, earlier this year to …

Six Barcelona directors quit, throwing club into crisis
4 years, 9 months ago

Six Barcelona directors quit, throwing club into crisis

Deccan Chronicle  

Barcelona: Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona were in turmoil on Friday after six board directors resigned criticising the club’s handling of a social media scandal and the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis. Two of the club’s four vice presidents, Emili Rousaud and Enrique Tombas, were among those to quit, joined by directors Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Jordi Calsamiglia and …

LaLiga: Spanish champions Barcelona announce record income projection of over one billion euros for 2019/20 season
5 years, 3 months ago

LaLiga: Spanish champions Barcelona announce record income projection of over one billion euros for 2019/20 season

Firstpost  

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu had set a strategic goal of being the first outfit to reach the one billion euro mark by the end of his presidency in 2021 Barcelona: Barcelona expect to record revenues of more than one billion euros for the 2019-2020 season, becoming the first football club to pass the mark, the Catalan club announced on …

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