Barcelona president had to be calm as he exploded in dressing room after Inter Milan draw.
The latest tie between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan puts the Catalans on the verge of being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. They run the risk of being eliminated from the group stage for the second time in a row.
Even if a record like that will have significant financial effects, it will also cause a significant loss in status, especially for a team that is thought to be among the biggest in football worldwide.
Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, had so shown no emotion of concealment following the team’s disastrous outcome against Inter Milan.
Jose Alvarez (h/t MARCA) claims that the Spaniard “exploded” in a fit of rage” following the tie and was upset with both coach Xavi Hernandez and several of the players. Directors Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff had to calm down the Catalan club’s president.
Although Laporta continues to believe in Xavi, the club president was not pleased with some of the players’ efforts. In the wake of this outcome, veterans like Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets in particular have been used as scapegoats inside the Barça ranks.
Just a few months into the new season, Laporta too believes that his new endeavor is already in danger of failing.
Not to mention, Barça has financial stress and pressure, particularly after spending a lot of money on transfers this past summer.
In fact, according to recent sources, the team will need to pay off enormous debts and make prompt payments to sponsorship partners like Sixth Street, which earlier this summer purchased 25% of the team’s TV rights.
Barcelona has the resources to survive without going bankrupt, but its bold business decisions need to be supported with success on the field.
However, with the team now facing elimination from the UCL, Laporta and co. may face difficult times as they attempt to balance the books during the forthcoming winter transfer window.
