Joan Laporta claimed that Barcelona are in the worst financial situation they've been in the club's history, with their debt skyrocketing to 1.35 billion euros.
The Barcelona president stressed that the current board should make important decisions which will affect the future of the club and blamed the former directors for the team's mismanagement.
"They are the worst accounts in the history of Barcelona with a debt of 1.35 billion euros and losses of 481m euros this year," said Laporta.
"When we arrived, we could not even pay the staff. This is what we have found. And the responsibilities that arise will be studied when the investigation is finished.
"The situation we have reached is a result of a serious deficiency in the management by the previous directors. Our legal department will decide if they constitute a crime and the legal actions that may arise.
"The institution is in an extremely delicate situation in regard to the financial structure. We have to make decisions that will mark the direction of the entity in the future."
Laporta went on to reassure the club's members that the current board are not willing to sell part of the team's shares to any investment fund in order to raise money.
"We are working to get the club out of the institutional well in which we find ourselves," added Laporta.
"We have carried out a financial operation to get 551m euros. We have renegotiated the sports contracts of the first team to reduce the wage bill by 155m euros, but we still have to reduce more.
"Barcelona are in our hands and not in the hands of third parties, nor of states or investment funds and that is how it will be.
"As long as we are the directors, the property will always be owned by the members. Those who think they can appropriate Barcelona are very wrong. We have drawn a red line and if someone wants to cross it, they will meet us."
Loaceimnsy
0
silly people still blame Laporta for making Messi leave...did he cause Barca's financial word that couldn't sustain them keeping Messi??
It’s not about him making Messi leave. It is about the way he handled it.
harsh1988
0
Instead of speaking just take Strict Action against Bartomeu and previous club authority who hide all this corruption or please shut up
riyikosz
1
whatever u stupid liar, promised to keep messi but lied! instead u keep koeman
vuaipuy
0
if there is no money,why do they want to upgrade the stadium?
they aren't doing it now, they will do it when we are financially stabled
TaongaZulu
0
u aren't even close to know something about the financial mess
if there is no money,why do they want to upgrade the stadium?
vuaipuy
2
people are very hypocritic, they were angry when bortameu didn't let people know about the status of the club, finansis, plans, etc but when laporta is speaking and letting everyone know the condition of the club, his projects, ideas, financial condition, people are saying he speaks too much
vuaipuy
0
just like the new Zambian president.. always blaming their predecessors
u aren't even close to know something about the financial mess
vuaipuy
0
You know what? Bartomeu may be have been the worst president ever BUT for Laporta it can be said that he is the one president where the club lost their most valuable jewel. 'LIONEL MESSI'
but laporta didn't create the financial disaster and we can't risk our club for messi club is always bigger than a player, anyways it's a good step for the future, one day messi had to leave, he left a bit early but not that early
Hamsa_Baydaani
0
You know what? Bartomeu may be have been the worst president ever BUT for Laporta it can be said that he is the one president where the club lost their most valuable jewel. 'LIONEL MESSI'
No laborta isn't the problem barca financial was the problem and he came at club in difficult situation he did his best but didn't work as messi wages was too much in this time.
Hamsa_Baydaani
0
silly people still blame Laporta for making Messi leave...did he cause Barca's financial word that couldn't sustain them keeping Messi??
exactly it's not his fault at all.
Seaninho_94
1
you're saying he's lousy and should work....the man is making the woes known to y'all who don't understand business...do u know how much debt Juventus would have been in if Ronaldo stayed another year?? you just check scores online and dont even watch football matches or know business.. Laporta comes around to almost every Barça game with almost new potential investor(s).
Seaninho_94
3
this is business guys...there was no way he could keep Messi and LA Liga rules states that a player must be paid...So, WTH are y'all talking about??
Seaninho_94
3
silly people still blame Laporta for making Messi leave...did he cause Barca's financial word that couldn't sustain them keeping Messi??
Seaninho_94
2
why is everyone blasting Laporta for talking? if he's not signing players, will any of u know his reasons? if he doesn't blame the former guys, who should he? or u expect him to use his personal cash to clear debts of the club? let's be reasonable
vicaelmorz
1
Bartomeu mismanagement leads to this
Mikefriday
1
You know what? Bartomeu may be have been the worst president ever BUT for Laporta it can be said that he is the one president where the club lost their most valuable jewel. 'LIONEL MESSI'
Wrist10
1
Laporta should be allowed to talk about this situation. It is obviously very bad. Bartomew and his board did a lot of harm to the club. This does not need to repeat itself again in the history of our dear club.
cekdiopuz
1
You are too lousy. Other clubs have similar problems, but they don't wash their dirty linen in public so often as you do. Face the present and future and make us fans happy again
TaongaZulu
1
just like the new Zambian president.. always blaming their predecessors
TeshSen
0
Too much talking.Now time to do the dos.
Koybcelpst
1
Yes we know Mr. President but it's high time you map out a strategy to set things straight instead of everyday excuses cuz we tired of been humiliated
tikbnosuy
0
You talk too much.
psr
1
let's just sell extra players and bring back la masia talents...like barca had done before... remember barca made stars not bought them
wehabdklpr
1
You're also the worst president in the clubs history, Your inability to govern the club have made it more harder than it was before you step up
Abbas Salim
1
The board should tell members what happened and when this investigation will be completed and action to be taken against those responsible.
Cuwbcilpy
0
what went wrong??
TeddyBarclay
0
He made it seem like a completely manageable situation during his election campaign and now he's making it seem like the worst possible situation to be in. So he either wasn't informed good enough or played a theater for the votes.
He wasn't aware that that's how the situation would have been because by then the Audit didn't submit their report
Sam”eto”
0
We all know this for crying out loud! Bend down and get the job done.
Philchetz
2
My lovely barca is too poor, with the return of fans it'll surely end up well, barca thrives on football tourism that's our biz, we're on the right track, worry less no need for lamentations ™️😜😜😝😝😝
Brunei813840
2
Strange enough most top players are linked to join Barca soon 🥰
BarcaChelArg
6
Papa, we knew that even before the elections that put in that office and you knew as well, hence the reason to elect you so that you the club back on track. Find ways and means of boosting the accounts so that we prove ourselves right for trusting you with presiding over the affairs of the mighty FC Barcelona.
BabaYaga2312
0
He made it seem like a completely manageable situation during his election campaign and now he's making it seem like the worst possible situation to be in. So he either wasn't informed good enough or played a theater for the votes.
Because that was what was presented to him the audit is done by the previous board and is presented to the new guys but this is only from what’s seen from outside
Vipdenpz
2
I think this man is lamenting too much. He should employ the services of financial experts to guide him pse..is a cycle ..all clubs do go through from time to time..so it's not a new thing, let him get to work ..
Ticarie
1
can laporta take salary??🤔🤔🤔
PerfectYC
1
SHOCKING! who knew an account in debt is worse than one that isn't🤡
Ruzcklnp
0
I think the only way we can get rid of that is by selling players and playing youth players even if we lose, it doesn't matter for some time, we should sell
this crisis is a very big reason why everything is broken inside barca
Ruzcklnp
4
I think the only way we can get rid of that is by selling players and playing youth players even if we lose, it doesn't matter for some time, we should sell
Brazil4Everr
2
in your language is that Excuse?, if he wasn't going to run for President then now we were going to be bankrupt and perhaps we were going to fall fall for good and our stories were going to be told only my old peeps,and we were only going to be remembered in videos because there wasn't going to be any thing called Football club Barcelona anymore so be thankful mate
He made it seem like a completely manageable situation during his election campaign and now he's making it seem like the worst possible situation to be in. So he either wasn't informed good enough or played a theater for the votes.
TeddyBarclay
0
save us the excuses, you should have learnt of it before running for the election.
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in your language is that Excuse?, if he wasn't going to run for President then now we were going to be bankrupt and perhaps we were going to fall fall for good and our stories were going to be told only my old peeps,and we were only going to be remembered in videos because there wasn't going to be any thing called Football club Barcelona anymore so be thankful mate
Nemcinpsy
3
What a joke
Yotanboy
2
save us the excuses, you should have learnt of it before running for the election.
Nwokeoma34
1
Sure we know that the last management dealt Barcelona a lot of blow but we trust you man. you did it for us before and you can do it again.
Joejust
2
The only person that can said the truth of what’s happening unlike bartomeu who hide everything and ruined the club
Anthovagasta
3
Come join us here
MUJAMMELLM10
4
Joker is a destroyer🥴