Bartomeu believes that Koeman deserves credit as coach of the Catalans. “You must not forget that he lost Lionel Messi.” According to him, that was a big mistake by the club and his successor Joan Laporta. “It’s a big mistake that he left. I have always tried to keep him, because playing football without Messi is a world of difference.”
In addition, Koeman did not step in at the easiest moment, when Messi was still at the club. He entered the Champions League after the 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich. Yet he dared this adventure. In his first year he also did well winning the cup and came very close in the league as well. I still don’t understand why it just didn’t work.” Still, Bartomeu puts pressure on Koeman. “He has to get the league and the cup this year.”
Big profit
Furthermore, Bartomeu claims that Barcelona’s financial situation is not at all as bad as Laporta portrays it. “In my last full season we had a profit of 95 million euros and without the corona pandemic it would have been much bigger. We have also always adhered to the Financial Fair Play rules, just like the salary cap of La Liga.”
In 2020/21, in which Bartomeu was also largely at the helm, there was a loss of almost 500 million euros. He does not deny that there are significant debts. “But there are also parties that have debts with Barcelona.” According to Bartomeu, the real debt is therefore not 1.35 billion, but 550 million. “Ultimately, under my reign, a very strong brand was built within football. That is why banks still dare to invest in us. They know that our revenues will increase significantly after the pandemic.”
He also cited the Super League once again, which both he and Laporta are hugely supportive of. “It’s a way to almost double our income. That makes it very interesting. It is possible to have the Super League and the domestic leagues side by side.”
