The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

For the seven years I have been a football writer/sports writer, I have written about many topics, but no topic irritates me more than that of FC Barcelona. Barca, as we know football fans, are one of the best clubs in Spanish and European history. Twenty-six La Liga titles, Five UEFA Champions Leagues, gives you some indication of the colossus we’re talking about.

Pre Covid, The Catalans were at the dizzy heights of being one of the most riches clubs in football, and world sport too. But that old chestnut Covid, which has been responsible in the economic sense for a lot of big businesses feeling the pinch and ultimately falling into debt, Barca were no different.

Of course the blame was put at former President Jose Bartomeu’s door for Barca’s crippling debts , and in part for good reason, but Joanne Laporta who was unanimously brought back to be president by the Barcelona voters (fans), has been far from brilliant when dealing with matters at Camp Nou.

O how he spoke at bringing Barcelona back to its glory days and how Lionel Messi (who was growing discontent), will be able to stay .. we know how that ended up. The Argentine maestro left with a teary press conference, went to Paris and off into the sunset he went.

It could have been all so different, had they got rid of Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Umtiti too. The French defender Umtiti, who is still on the books of The Blaugrana, has been seen as public enemy number one as his wages, not only made Messi have to leave, but blocked new signings being registered.

Aguero, Depay Garcia were only able to play due to Pique and Busquets (amongst other senior players taking crazy pay cuts). Surely they would learn their lesson, sell before they can buy, right? Wrong!

The signing of Ferran Torres for £55 million, plus add-ons is good money for a very good player, but they can’t afford him! Yes Mr Laporta, we know you want to tell the world that Barcelona are back, but we’re not stupid.

O how the Barca fans, were wishing they marked a cross against Victor Font’s name come ballet day. Barcelona , have done the equivalent of going to a company like Wonga (who gave loans to anyone) and are boasting of some new riches that they have found.

It’s quite simple, Torres is a Sergio Aguero replacement in the making, but you can’t play him, until you sell some players. Coutinho has been difficult to sell as well as the aforementioned Umtiti.

They can’t ask Pique and Busquets to go any lower, otherwise they will be playing for free or close to it, the same could be said about Jordi Alba too. The veteran left-back, I am sure took a pay cut too when asked to introduce the new signings of the summer in. The headlines that Joanne Laporta will want to create is that Barcelona are back, but until Ferran Torres is elelgible to play, then don’t be deceived by the smoke screen.