Sport360° view: Martino the fall guy for Rosell and Bartomeu’s foul play

Andy West 10:36 21/04/2014
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  • No favors: Martino is up against.

    When rumours first emerged that Barcelona boss Tata Martino was preparing to leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season, they were strenuously denied by the Catalan club, with president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisting he wanted the Argentine to stay in charge beyond his existing two-year contract. 

    Since Barca’s disastrous recent run of results, however, that rhetoric has notably changed and the club’s hierarchy now seem to be paving their way for a third consecutive summer containing a managerial departure.

    Bartomeu’s most recent utterance on the subject was simply to state that he has asked the manager to focus firmly on this season’s remaining fixtures.

    That’s hardly an endorsement for a long-term stay.

    Martino himself has always been ambiguous on the subject, maintaining that his focus remains on attempting to finish the campaign with silverware and refusing to commit himself either way beyond the middle of May.

    However, successive defeats in the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey have left his position close to being untenable.

    With Barca now likely to finish the season without major silverware for the first time since 2008, something will have to give.

    Considering the off-the-pitch turmoil that has been created by the current presidential regime, that ‘something’ should probably be the board.

    Allegations of tax evasion and breaking FIFA regulations on the transfer of minors are extremely serious matters and Bartomeu – along with his recently departed predecessor Sandro Rosell – can be accused of significant negligence.

    However, the men in power are unlikely to resign.

    They are first and foremost politicians, and will therefore probably do whatever it takes to keep hold of their lofty status.

    Bartomeu and his entourage can strengthen their positions by allowing Martino to become the scapegoat for this season’s failings.

    The failure to explicitly back his manager could easily be interpreted as Bartomeu hanging Martino out to dry, and the prospect of him sitting in the dugout next season is looking increasingly remote.

    In truth, his impending exit probably won’t upset Martino too much.

    His first experience of European football has been a testing one, effectively managing with his hands tied behind his back considering the unbalanced nature of his squad and the persistent off-field controversy.

    Being given the chance to manage Barcelona was the opportunity of a lifetime for a previously low-profile coach, but he hasn’t been able to enjoy the experience one bit.

    At least it’s nearly over.

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