Barcelona: Charged with corruption .... again!

Fake news

Exactly. Forbes mentioning the news of El Cofidencial. And without verifying/contrasting the information. These still do not know that El Cofidencial has been fake news against Barcelona for months for not giving the remodeling of the Camp Nou to a Spanish company.
 
Now will come a mountain of rumors of signings and sales.
The Barcelona market will be interesting this year. Then it will come out better or worse.

Probable signings according to rumors: I. Martinez, Gundogan, Messi, Carrasco.

Difficult signings: Zubimendi, Vitor Roque, Foyth.

Other options: Amrabat, G. Rodríguez, Auba, Vanderson, Arnau Martínez.

Return of loaned with option to stay: Abde, Nico.

Players for sale: A. Fati, F. Torres, Raphinha, Kessie, Lenglet, Umtiti.

Players who can leave: Alba (rescission, free), P. Torre ( loan).

Interesting players from the academy: Lamine Yamal, A. Garrido, C. Riad, Casadó, Pau Prim.
 
Under investigation by Spanish prosecutors? My guess would be there will be a lot of pressure because a guilty verdict will do serious damage to Barcelona and Spanish football generally.

From the facts that emerged so far it looks highly probable they are guilty of paying the cash...
 
Now it's time to find a player for Busquets' position. Xavi and the coaching staff want Zubimendi. All the metrics say that he is the player most similar to Busquets, this was said by a coach who had to do a job with software in a master coach.

It would be €60M and maybe a salary of €8M a year. In a 6-year contract it would be €18M/year of wage bill. Busquets this year earn €23M.

Another option is a stop gap like Amrabat or Guido Rodríguez, players who have one more year left on their contract. They would come out at a reasonable price. This would be a good option while watching the evolution of academy players like Nico (21), Casadó (19) and the one I like the most Pau Prim (17).
Why would you not play frenkie in that position? Seeing as its the role he excells at?
 
Many journalists write Barca will receive green light from LaLiga next week for their viability plan. That would mean the club can register Araujo and Gavi and work on new signings with the 1:1 rule. For every new investment, they need to earn the same amount first by selling players, sign new sponsors or free up Masa Salarial if a contract ends.


Barca started in a good way by signing a new sleeve sponsor. Phillips will pay up to €56m for 5 years, roughly €10m a year which will help to sign new players.
 
Many journalists write Barca will receive green light from LaLiga next week for their viability plan. That would mean the club can register Araujo and Gavi and work on new signings with the 1:1 rule. For every new investment, they need to earn the same amount first by selling players, sign new sponsors or free up Masa Salarial if a contract ends.


Barca started in a good way by signing a new sleeve sponsor. Phillips will pay up to €56m for 5 years, roughly €10m a year which will help to sign new players.

Why can’t you save money? Is this a foreign concept? Not even having a go here but your club just can’t seem to wait to spend
 
Why can’t you save money? Is this a foreign concept? Not even having a go here but your club just can’t seem to wait to spend

Because it is a fundamental decision. Their are only 2 possible ways going forward with the debt Barca has.

1. Stop spending money and hope that your current squad is good enough to stay somewhat successful to keep earning money and reduce the debt.
2. Aggressive investment. New stadium and keep an elite squad. Keep on spending money on the team to ensure success with the goal to increase the income and reduce the debt that way.

Both ways have their pros and cons. The first path isn't without risk either, because you risk to fall behind without investment (with Koeman we were 9th in LaLiga at some point) and if you fall behind, you lose a big part of the usual income and that means beside problems to pay the current debt back, you risk to fall behind for a very long time see Arsenal for example. If you are unsuccessful, top players don't want to join you anymore and you fall even more behind. It's a possible death cycle.
The second path is also risky of course, because you need to ensure you don't waste the money like Bartomeu did. The club can't afford another lever wave, so you need to ensure the money you spend will come back and then some.
For now, no one can tell which decision would be better long term. Only in a few years looking back we will know if Laporta made the right decision or not.
 
Because it is a fundamental decision. Their are only 2 possible ways going forward with the debt Barca has.

1. Stop spending money and hope that your current squad is good enough to stay somewhat successful to keep earning money and reduce the debt.
2. Aggressive investment. New stadium and keep an elite squad. Keep on spending money on the team to ensure success with the goal to increase the income and reduce the debt that way.

Both ways have their pros and cons. The first path isn't without risk either, because you risk to fall behind without investment (with Koeman we were 9th in LaLiga at some point) and if you fall behind, you lose a big part of the usual income and that means beside problems to pay the current debt back, you risk to fall behind for a very long time see Arsenal for example. If you are unsuccessful, top players don't want to join you anymore and you fall even more behind. It's a possible death cycle.
The second path is also risky of course, because you need to ensure you don't waste the money like Bartomeu did. The club can't afford another lever wave, so you need to ensure the money you spend will come back and then some.
For now, no one can tell which decision would be better long term. Only in a few years looking back we will know if Laporta made the right decision or not.
Also there is a really good opening to dominate La Liga a bit at the moment, they won't want to miss it.
 
Also there is a really good opening to dominate La Liga a bit at the moment, they won't want to miss it.
When have they not dominated La Liga? They finished one time outside of of the top 2 in the last 15 years!
 
Why can’t you save money? Is this a foreign concept? Not even having a go here but your club just can’t seem to wait to spend
The banks/investors back them and the objective of a football club is sporting and not financial success
 
The banks/investors back them and the objective of a football club is sporting and not financial success
Surely saving money for transfers and players who improve your title wining squad is worth more than Supermarket Sweep every summer?
The club has fallen levels below from what they were because of this both on and off the field.
You don’t see City, Bayern etc going out there and spending entire budgets on player grabs just because the moneys there
 
Why would you not play frenkie in that position? Seeing as its the role he excells at?

Xavi wants a positional pivot and it is not FDJ's main strength. What he has done in recent months is play with a double pivot and there FDJ can play his best football. Like he did at Ajax. Someone to keep his back.
 
Why can’t you save money? Is this a foreign concept? Not even having a go here but your club just can’t seem to wait to spend

Barcelona has ordinary losses of €200M mainly due to contracts. Laliga has told Barcelona that as long as they do not eliminate those losses and it is a sustainable club they cannot sign. And that's what Laporta and Alemany are trying to do.
 
Barcelona has ordinary losses of €200M mainly due to contracts. Laliga has told Barcelona that as long as they do not eliminate those losses and it is a sustainable club they cannot sign. And that's what Laporta and Alemany are trying to do.
What is the plan going forward though with Benardo Silva and Messi both on the radar? Surely more players have to be let go but who will want Fati or Ferran for example?
 
What is the plan going forward though with Benardo Silva and Messi both on the radar? Surely more players have to be let go but who will want Fati or Ferran for example?
They could probably make their money back on Raphinha and Kessie might bring in something. I'd be surpised if they sold any of the others listed above or got much for them. Gundogan and Messi are both out of contract, so might not cost too much. Or Gundogan might not, no point kidding ourselves about Messi's wages.
 
What is the plan going forward though with Benardo Silva and Messi both on the radar? Surely more players have to be let go but who will want Fati or Ferran for example?

Yes. Barcelona will have to sell some players to be able to sign. If they are not capable of selling them, then there will be few transfers. Iñigo Martinez and Gundogan probably and nothing else.

Lenglet - €12-14M
Umtiti - €1-5M
Trincao - €7M already paid and the other 50% remains to be sold.
Todibo - 20% of a transfer.

And then let's see what happens with Fati, Torres, Raphinha, Kessie, Abde.
 
The banks/investors back them and the objective of a football club is sporting and not financial success
This, they're basically a state owned club so there's barely any difference from their financial banking to the sheikh owned ones...
 
Did Laporta choose which players to drive through mud this summer, because he wants a bit more money for his shiny, new toys?
 
This, they're basically a state owned club so there's barely any difference from their financial banking to the sheikh owned ones...

What team are you talking about? I think you posted in the wrong thread.

What is the plan going forward though with Benardo Silva and Messi both on the radar? Surely more players have to be let go but who will want Fati or Ferran for example?

On the radar? Bernardo is impossible and I doubt a lot about Messi (I don't want him back).

Under investigation by Spanish prosecutors? My guess would be there will be a lot of pressure because a guilty verdict will do serious damage to Barcelona and Spanish football generally.

From the facts that emerged so far it looks highly probable they are guilty of paying the cash...

The cash is paid. The destination is a different story. That is actually the most important part.

What is happening with the payment to referees?

Latest update is that the prosecution is investigating family members of Negreira and FC Barcelona board ex members. They suspect that at least part of the money just went there.

Anyway this task will take months, so don't expect many updates for now.
 
On the radar? Bernardo is impossible and I doubt a lot about Messi (I don't want him back).
You don’t want Messi back? Must be in the minority but I’d definitely agree he wouldn’t be at the same level that you remember him and it would be unwise by him to go back with the level of expectation that it would bring from the fans.

As for Silva, I don’t know what his situation is but he definitely wanted to leave. Perhaps if they win the CL he will push again to leave since he would have won everything.

If both were a possibility Silva would be the better option.
 
How are barcelona going to make £200mil in sales? Who are they going to sell?

TIFO IR l mentioned that laliga said they must achieve that target this summer in order to register new players.

I dont get why they would want bernardo silva, where would he play? Alternating with dembele off the right wing? That wouldnt be the best use of bernardo silva. Balde and dembele provide the width to the team that creates space for gavi and pedri to do their stuff. Gavi and Pedri are untouchable. Do you sell frenkie and replace him with bernardo silva?

Replacing busqutes and signing a proper right back i would have thought should be more important targets than bernardo silva or messi or gundogan.
 
This, they're basically a state owned club so there's barely any difference from their financial banking to the sheikh owned ones...
Are you trying to say, as the symbol for cataluna, the cataluna banks will turn a blind eye?
 
How are barcelona going to make £200mil in sales? Who are they going to sell?

TIFO IR l mentioned that laliga said they must achieve that target this summer in order to register new players.

I dont get why they would want bernardo silva, where would he play? Alternating with dembele off the right wing? That wouldnt be the best use of bernardo silva. Balde and dembele provide the width to the team that creates space for gavi and pedri to do their stuff. Gavi and Pedri are untouchable. Do you sell frenkie and replace him with bernardo silva?

Replacing busqutes and signing a proper right back i would have thought should be more important targets than bernardo silva or messi or gundogan.

Barcelona have an annual loss this year in ordinary business of €200M, so levers have been used.
LaLiga does not allow them to sign with the 1/1 rule until the ordinary business does not give losses.
Barcelona to reduce these losses is eliminating salaries, some amortizations have ended and new income has been achieved.

According to the press, 15 days ago, Barcelona had already managed to reduce the deficit by €120M. There is still €80M to be reduced.
 
Barcelona have an annual loss this year in ordinary business of €200M, so levers have been used.
LaLiga does not allow them to sign with the 1/1 rule until the ordinary business does not give losses.
Barcelona to reduce these losses is eliminating salaries, some amortizations have ended and new income has been achieved.

According to the press, 15 days ago, Barcelona had already managed to reduce the deficit by €120M. There is still €80M to be reduced.
Ffs, back to €80M needed and Frenkie saying he's happy at Barca but who knows what the future will bring. It's going to be Groundhog Day in the Frenkie thread this summer again...
 
Frenkie doesn't want to live in England I think (or his Mrs doesn't?). You can try to buy him but Barcelona can't force him to leave without destroying his value which they also can't do.

Anyway back on topic, don't think any club has been caught paying VP of refs for more than a decade. Even Juve had nothing on what we see here. Doing a PSG, Abramovich or City, football always been like that from Jack Walker and before. Just went to a bigger level these days.
 
What is going on with Barca and their players? Do they receive money from Russia or what?


Shakhtar Donetsk condemn Barcelona for players’ Russia message

- Alejandro Balde and Sergi Roberto thanked Russian fans
- Ukrainian club’s chief executive Palkin ‘expresses outrage’

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-condemn-barcelona-for-players-russia-message

“It is a second year of a bloody and unjustifiable military invasion by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine,” Palkin said. “Thousands of Ukrainians became victims of this war, dozens of cities were destroyed, millions of people lost their homes and became refugees. The whole world united to support Ukraine and Ukrainian people and condemned the invasion. Every day we do everything to hasten the victory of Ukraine and to protect the European values of freedom and democracy.

“And then we see the players of one of the world’s top clubs, Barcelona, address the Russians, expressing their gratitude and support to them. We consider this an intolerable and simply immoral act. We must remember that no victory on the football field is worth the life of a child, no money earned in the football market is worth the destroyed cities and the wrecked lives of people.”

Barcelona have been approached for comment.
 
It was media day in Barcelona and players had to talk with a bunch of journalists. One of the journalists asked them to address russian fans and that was the result. Lewandowski was also pretty angry about it. Ignorance is no excuse of course, but some footballers are not the brightest lightbulbs. It wouldn't surprise me, if some of them don't even know what's going on over there or don't understand it at all.
 
It was media day in Barcelona and players had to talk with a bunch of journalists. One of the journalists asked them to address russian fans and that was the result. Lewandowski was also pretty angry about it. Ignorance is no excuse of course, but some footballers are not the brightest lightbulbs. It wouldn't surprise me, if some of them don't even know what's going on over there or don't understand it at all.
Yeah that does seem a bit unfair if that's the context, you'd probably want them to be informed about what's going on in the world (I'm not quite sure how you can be oblivious to what's going on in the Ukraine but I guess some people are), and this should probably have been part of their media trainings/briefings, but they probably had no idea what they were talking about.