If the decay of FC Barcelona perseverance, it will not stop with Lionel Messi leaving the Camp Nou. Club watcher Simon Kuper warns about this, who, among other things, predicts the future of Frenkie de Jong questioned by the Catalans.
Barca had to sit and watch as Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer. The La Liga top club is struggling with enormous debts. “It is becoming a nostalgia club. When things go bad, you look at the past. Everything used to be beautiful. Cruijff is no longer there, but Koeman was touched by Cruijff and made that goal in 1992. So we get Koeman as coach Don’t look at the best coach of 2021, where the best football is now being played, but at the glory days of the past,” says Kuper at Studio Football of the US.
The Dutch writer has been with the club for more than thirty years. He spoke to all sorts of insiders for his latest book, FC Barcelona – The Empire, which came out in August. “It has completely gotten out of hand under ex-chairman Bartomeu. In five years they have wasted more than a billion in transfers.” The Catalans are now trying with all their might to clean up, but the end is not yet in sight. “I think it will get worse. Barcelona need to cut salaries even more. Towards the level of Everton and Aston Villa.”
Kuper fears the sporting consequences. “I think Barcelona will play for third or fourth place in their own country. Salaries determine almost everything in football.” That could have consequences for the future of carrier players. “I see it happening that in a year’s time clubs will come and indicate that they think Pedri is a nice football player. Or Frenkie de Jong. Does De Jong want to play with a sub-topper for years to come? What if Bayern comes next year and wants to pay a hundred million euros ? That problem is lurking.”
In addition to Messi, coach Ronald Koeman had to say goodbye to Antoine Griezmann during the past transfer period. The necessary redundant players were also discharged.
