Barcelona risk “becoming a new Milan or Manchester United” for not being able to compete for important honors, says Victor Font, the club’s presidential candidate.
Font is expected to challenge current president Josep Maria Bartomeu in 2021.
On Thursday, Rivals Real Madrid won their first La Liga title in three years.
Font said that Barcelona is likely to be “one of the most successful clubs in Europe that is now unable to compete for the best titles”.
Font, who has been working on his presidential “project” since 2013, says the club is facing a “perfect storm” in replacing a key generation of players, renewing the Camp Nou and managing the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The competition has become increasingly professional over the past decade,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast.
“See in the Premier League with well-run clubs, and even claim to own clubs to earn a lot of money at a time when club finances and the economic model are on the edge.
“Unless we do what we’re feeling, Barca has the risk of becoming a new Milan or Manchester United.”
AC Milan won the last Serie A in 2010-11, while Manchester United have not won the Premier League since 2012-13.
‘Messi is unhappy’
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi said “things must change” when the club lost the title in Madrid, calling the team “weak” and “very inconsistent”.
Businessman Font is currently the only candidate to challenge Bartomeu.
Part of his vision is to bring the former club midfielder Xavi back as head coach. Quique Setien is currently in charge while Xavi is the manager of the Qatari Al-Sadd team.
He also wants to make sure that Messi remains in the club despite his contract expiring in 2021.
“He is unhappy and doubts what to do next,” added Font. “He’s probably a little frustrated because he’s not able to win year after year, especially the Champions League. That’s where attention should be focused.
“We want to make sure that he understands if we should manage the club from next summer onwards, we would put in all conditions to equip him in the best possible way so that the last years of his career here can still aspire to win a couple of Championships.”
