Barcelona's board has a lot to answer for as club unravels after latest controversy

Barca Universal 10:24 18/02/2020
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  • Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu

    Monday’s Cadena SER’s ‘Què T’hi Jugues?’ has reported that the Barcelona board has been using a company called ‘I3 Ventures’ to attack players, legends and presidential candidates from the club. Another scandal that could have major consequences.

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    The 2019/20 season has not been the best for Barcelona and has been full of controversies. After enduring a disastrous January 2020 transfer window, Barcelona is all set for a massive rebuild in the summer. A lot of exits, and new additions are expected, with rumours of Lautaro Martinez and Neymar sniffing around the Camp Nou thanks to the Spanish media, and Eric Abidal saying that the operation is not impossible.

    But more than a number 9, centre-back and a winger, the club needs to get the behind-the-scenes issues sorted. After the sacking of Ernesto Valverde, there has been somewhat of an unrest in the dressing room, and the team hasn’t performed well under Quique Setién as they’re still in the transition phase. But there’s clearly more to it than what meets the eye.

    The board’s relationship with the players

    Less than two weeks ago, there was a dispute between Lionel Messi and technical secretary Eric Abidal, leading the latter almost to the sack. Adding to this, Cadena SET and Sport reported on Monday that club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and Co. hired a company to clean up their own reputation, and target current and former players and icons like Messi, Gerard Pique, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Pep Guardiola and former president Joan Laporta. It is very clear from these moves that Bartomeu and his men need to leave the Camp Nou sooner than later. We’ve heard about the troubles in clubs like Napoli, Milan and Manchester United, but this is a new low when it comes to board level issues.

    Messi, as we all know, can leave at the end of any and every season for free if he wishes to, and he still hasn’t renewed his contract, so the world doesn’t know what is going on in his mind. The Abidal conflict has raised questions about the relationship between the players and the board, and given us an insight into how the dressing room might look like. Furthermore, the so-called ‘scandal’ by this board has given the fans a massive shock, and they’re just wishing that the board leaves sooner rather than later.

    The transfer policy going forward

    After signing Philippe Coutinho for a club record fee and an injury-prone Ousmane Dembele who hasn’t been able to adapt for the third year now, the club needs to rethink what is the purpose of any signing. Moreover, rather than a short-term solution like Antoine Griezmann, the club should target young talents like Jadon Sancho, Leroy Sane, Lautaro Martinez or Timo Werner, instead of going after the almost impossible Neymar signing. The past couple of big money additions were just for shirt sales or statement acquisitions, and have back-fired. Focusing on long-term transfers, and players who fit the Barca way should be recruited, like Frenkie de Jong. Footballers fight very hard to adapt and be able to suit the Blaugranas style of play, so this process should be made as smooth as possible.

    Relying more on homegrown talent should be the club’s priority, which was a massive part of their philosophy but has lost its way. Players like Carles Alena, or even young prospects like Jean-Clair Todibo, should not to be sent out on loan, with the latter having a €50 million buy-back option. Debatable business by the board.

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    The fans still doubt the off-pitch relationship between Messi and Griezmann, as we haven’t seen yet the best of the World Cup winner who was the club’s marquee signing last summer. In addition, the lack of attacking players and a weak defence has forced Marc-Andre rer Stegen to become both a goalkeeper, and a playmaker. Also, our captain has been playing with some discomfort in his left knee, which just shows the incompetence of the board and the fitness staff.

    It’s still not clear whether Coutinho will end up at Bayern Munich, as his value is now half or maybe less than what Barcelona bought him for. There’s a theory that Coutinho could be key to bringing Neymar back to the Camp Nou. The fans are in a conflict when it comes to signing the Brazilian, due to his injury problems and his off-pitch controversies. The directives might also look to sell Dembele due to his injury nightmare and lifestyle. All in all, there are a lot of unanswered questions and the board, considering their way of doing things, has a lot to answer for.

    The board has to go

    With all these issues, the board should leave by the end of the season. At present Victor Font looks like the main candidate to come in the 2021 elections, but many hope to see him in the summer of 2020 already. It is unknown whether this would mean a possible exit for Quique Setien as well, since Font’s project is mostly built around Xavi as the manager.

    The transfer business and how the club has treated the players they’ve signed has not been the best. It’s safe to say that the board ruined one of the best footballers in Coutinho, who tried his best to adapt, even after playing out of position. The Neymar exit hit Barcelona hard as he was deemed to take over when Messi retired, but Barcelona hasn’t managed to sign the right replacement.

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    When Joan Laporta was in charge, the club was like a family. But now, the present board is on the verge of breaking this family apart. It’s very clear now that Roma and Liverpool were not completely Valverde’s fault, and, looking from the outside in, FC Barcelona is in a massive crisis and it’s the board that’s got to leave before any player or manager does.

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