Joan Laporta has slammed his predecessor Bartomeu for the financial woes.
Barcelona‘s financial situation continues to worsen as president Joan Laporta has revealed that the club’s debut has risen to £1.15bn.
Earlier, Laporta stated that Lionel Messi’s new contract could have accounted for 110% of their yearly revenue, and it was the reason the Argentine left for Ligue 1 giants PSG.
Laporta also hit out at former president Josep Maria Bartomeu for the club’s financial mess.
“Our salaries represent 103% of the club’s total income, that’s 20-25% more than our competitors.
“The first thing we had to do when we arrived was to ask for a loan of 80m euros because, otherwise, we could not pay the salaries. The previous regime was full of lies.
“Barcelona has a negative net worth of 451m euros – it is a terrible inheritance. What has been happening is very worrying.”
Barca had also been struggling to register summer signings – Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia – due to La Liga’s salary cap restrictions before Gerard Pique took a significant pay cut to allow the club to do so.
Laporta also insisted that the Catalan club’s economy would return to normal in a couple of years.
The Blaugrana president added: “The situation is dramatic, but we have good news. The strategic plan based on our credibility and experience on the assets that Barca have makes this situation temporary.
“I think that in a couple of years, the club’s economy will be healthy.
“We are not scared at all. We are highly motivated and positive, and morale is high. It’s a big challenge, but we are capable of overcoming it.”
