Victor Font: Economically Barca are worse than two and a half years ago

"Concerned, disappointed and sad" with the economic, social and institutional situation of FC Barcelona and the "feeling of constant improvisation" of its leaders, Víctor Font returned to the stage with a media event to fulfil his "responsibility to oversee the government of Joan Laporta" derived from "representing a third of the club's members". The former candidate for the 2021 elections asked for "more transparency" from the Barça board of directors, and offered to "contribute and help" to modify the management model that the club needs to face the "challenges and opportunities" of the future.

The leader of the 'Yes to the Future' group lamented the toxicity of the 'entorno' - environment - around the club, which makes it impossible "to build a common front". "The trenches weaken us", he said in a declaration of intent about his way of understanding the opposition. In a critical but constructive tone, Font pointed to Messi's farewell and his frustrated return as "the mistake that will mark Laporta's term in office". "The fact that Leo did not renew two years ago and that he has not returned is a problem of leadership. And the biggest mistake that can be made. I had lunch with Xavi several weeks ago and he was very excited about his possible arrival. We are not aware of the opportunities we have missed. We could have capitalised, for example, on his World Cup with Argentina.

"My vocation and that of my team is to help transform the club. Barça has to change its governance model. It doesn't work to have a 'Superman' president who takes on everything. Right now, the members don't count for anything. The other day, at the Manchester City treble party, there were almost more Cules than English people. We can't have quality professionals working in other teams. It can't be that City, with our talent, are the envy of the whole world," he said, before expressing optimism about Pep Guardiola's return.

"If we are able to create the right conditions for him to be comfortable and happy, I am convinced that he will return. Not to coach, but to be part of the sporting structure.

A "very worrying" financial context

On the financial situation, the Catalan businessman said that "today the figures show us that we have not overcome the legacy of the previous board".

"We are worse off than we were two and a half years ago. If there were elections tomorrow, Laporta's economic inheritance would be worse than Bartomeu's. We have lost a lot of time and we have more expenses. We have lost a lot of time and we have more expenses, more losses, less assets and more debt. The context, with 1,000 million losses in ordinary business in two and a half years, is very worrying. And the forecasts for the next two years, with the move to Montjuïc, are not particularly optimistic," he added. "We are not doing our homework to make Barça sustainable," he insisted.