Opinion Piece
Lessons From The Past
Will FC Barcelona learn from their mistakes?
With the appointment of Xavi at his former home showing more and more promise as a manager, the new wave of La Masia was buzzing at the Camp Nou. Youth, when given chances, more often than not shone and it seemed all was well — despite them being a far cry from their best. Even, despite them crashing out of European competition, and finishing the season without a piece of silverware to boot. If they were smart, the board, fans and players would bare it until the following season because it all lay on one word — faith.
And they did. While the backroom was scrambling to get their financials sorted, there was a clear identity shift on the pitch. Gone were the stale, rigid structures that dictated the play under Setien and Koeman, with positional fluidity and quick tiki-taka was in order. The trust in youth was more or less restored and the Barca way was back. No matter the result of the season, it was about identity. It was about finding their way after being lost for nearly 4 years.
Barcelona was back.
New season, new look
Changes for the new season shifted their focus onto the financial side of things. Perhaps it is the harkening back to the Blaugrana spirit which has guided them, perhaps it was out of necessity. The new season will see Spotify replace Rakuten as their sponsor. In addition, the iconic Camp Nou will be renamed to Spotify Camp, with the music streaming service acquiring the naming rights.
In terms of player contracts, the wage bill demanded reshuffling of exorbitant wages for both incomings and youth players deserving of a new deal. The upcoming transfer window serves, now, as a way to shift funds as well as a way to use their historical pull to convince marquees to sign under less than ideal circumstances. Whether the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mo Salah can be financially responsible in the long run is another question, given the recent history of the financials under the eye of Bartomeu. Whether Laoporta will pay once more much like his predecessor, will have to be assessed as with the ever-evolving situation.
What now?
Now, Barcelona tread a precarious line, something that is the utmost importance to get right. Whether they succumb to old mistakes of financial irresponsibility or, if they somehow miraculously find a way back from this mess is a frightening prospect that the club must face.
Should they refuse to sell when a great deal comes along to alleviate pressure, or continue to offer wages beyond the Santander average, they will be in trouble. We know that this not only affects the backroom, but the performances on the pitch as well. Players will be pulled away from their purpose on Matchday, if this were the case — which it already is looking increasingly likely to be.
There must be an acceptance of past mistakes and a change in strategy. This is what Laporta was brought in for, but as the days go on, it’s looking like the Barca of old is slowly but surely getting ripped away, as La Masia holds less and less importance comparative to big name stars. This comes with it, big name wages.
Should Laporta not heed the warnings of his predecessor, the hope that runs through the supporters and the club will all but be replaced with an impending spiral of doom, as Barcelona plunges deeper and deeper into financial ruin.
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