According to Laporta, financial controls were evaded through various constructions. According to him, that is the reason that the club is struggling with a debt, which normally should never have been and could not have risen so high. The eight points in Bartomeu’s made public letter, the current president fired point by point. “I’m sorry to hit you with so many details and numbers, but I have to mention them to show you what a mess we’ve ended up in.”
“We have wasted an enormous amount of time getting the club in the right place,” said Laporta. “I wanted to answer this letter with eight lies. The previous board has its responsibility and is desperate. Making this letter public is a very bad act. All emotions are mixed up in this way. I think Bartomeu is aware of his mistakes. And then propose themselves to find solutions? That by someone who ran the club so badly. They always wanted to think in short-term plans. That’s the big problem for the club right now.”
Lies
According to Laporta, the Camp Nou could not even have been safely open to the public against Real Sociedad, if it had not been for 1.8 million euros in renovations. “In 2019 there was already a report that it would not be safe for the fans,” said Laporta. The Estadi Johan Cruyff thought to put down the previous board for 4 million euros, but exceeded the 20 million euros, he said. The accusation that Laporta refrained from recovering the rightful 16 million euros from Neymar?
“Another lie,” said Laporta. “I would like to remind everyone that that case was very bad for the club. Bartomeu agreed with justice that two crimes would be recovered from Barça. The club has never been legally punished before. Neymar won the case, so how was it possible to recover that money from him?”
Terribly bad transfer policy
Then the €222 million that Barcelona received for Neymar when he left for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017. “The salary house is not so bad because we wanted to compete with clubs like PSG or Manchester City, but because of a terrible transfer policy since then,” said Laporta. “They were spending money at a very rapid rate and the salaries were insane. I don’t think they did that well, they shouldn’t have changed the model of the club and brought players from the Academy into the team. That is the most logical.”
Ex-President Josep Maria Bartomeu
Ⓒ ANP/HH
Then there is the ‘salary reduction’ that Bartomeu managed to achieve, worth 68 million euros. “But that was not a reduction, they get this money back later in the form of bonuses or at the end of their contract,” said Laporta. “So, deferred payment. Bearing in mind a loss of 91 million euros due to the corona pandemic, we suffered a loss of 451 million euros over last season. The previous board is responsible for this. They want to get away with it, but that’s not in their hands.”
Dramatic situation
Will Barcelona then consider legal action? “It is too early to answer that question now,” said Laporta. “We have to study everything for that. But there is one thing I do know: they are responsible for this situation. They want to get away with it, but they won’t be able to.”
“The situation is dramatic, but as I said earlier, we have good news,” Laporta is optimistic. “I think we have the experience here to solve cases. We are reorganizing. We love Barcelona. We have a plan, it’s going to be tough, but we’re working hard to turn the situation around. I am optimistic, especially after seeing the team yesterday. As for Messi, there was no way out. I was optimistic before, but then we didn’t know the numbers as we know them now. It’s a good thing, for Leo and the club. We have to move on. After all, nobody is bigger than the club and we are strong, very strong. I saw the team yesterday, with a lot of talent and a great attitude. The finances will be turned upside down, but when it comes to what’s happening on the pitch, I’m very optimistic.”
