Barcelona: Charged with corruption .... again!

[Dave Smith]

If there is a fire sale, which is looking very likely, the very last people to go would be the likes of Pedri, Fati and Moriba.

They are more likely to try and push on Griezmann, Dembele and Coutinho first, but Couthinho and Dembele are injured and Griezmann has said he is not leaving. So if that doesn't work it's likely you could see ter Stegen and De Jong up for sale , there's plenty who would like to buy one of those two and I can't help but think that Messi will have to go. Imagine Grealish, Kane and Messi all signing for City!

1) No one in their right mind are taking Griezmann, Coutinho or Dembele. Absolutely none. Ignore the injuries the problem is wages. Who is going to take on €800k, €280k or €230k a week for one of those players? Especially with Greizmann's age and the other twos form/injuries. None. At best clubs will try and get them when they're out if contact.

2) De Jong is on way too much money, at €400k a week is would pretty much go in as anyone's top earner straight away. He is a very good player but I don't see many clubs doing that. PSG and City maybe, but they seem to have other priorities atm. As for Ter Stegan, again on big wages and is there a top club that genuinely need a GK with massive wages? Some may say Utd but with De Gea on £300k+ cannot see the club going for it, even if Henderson is sold for decent money (don't think he will be.)

 

[Kentonio]

2) De Jong is on way too much money, at €400k a week is would pretty much go in as anyone's top earner straight away. He is a very good player but I don't see many clubs doing that. PSG and City maybe, but they seem to have other priorities atm.

Supposedly the only player City have on that kind of money currently is KdB. Would they really inflate their wage structure by handing that kind of money to De Jong?

 

[Dave Smith]

Supposedly the only player City have on that kind of money currently is KdB. Would they really inflate their wage structure by handing that kind of money to De Jong?

Indeed. Hence, why I said maybe, even for City and PSG it is a push.

 

[Matthew84!]

I hope Barcelona get straddled with all these players paying them over the top wages for years to come.
Completely irresponsible to give that sort of wage to people.
Utd fans about what DDG earns but those wages are ridiculous.
They should get Messi signed up and sell him, get his wages cleared of the bill and have alot of money to pay of a little debt.

 

[duffer]

Where are the Barca fans? Wanna know their thoughts on this.

 

[giorno]

CR7 is a modern Beckham, just much more popular than he was, and three times the football player too. And still, for whatever reason, Messi is paid much more than CR7.

Because Messi is a religious figure in barcelona

Nobita's options were:
A) give messi whatever he wants
B) lose Messi and relocate himself and his family out of catalunya

This isn't hyperbole, i'm 100% serious here

 

[Gandalf]

1) No one in their right mind are taking Griezmann, Coutinho or Dembele. Absolutely none. Ignore the injuries the problem is wages. Who is going to take on €800k, €280k or €230k a week for one of those players? Especially with Greizmann's age and the other twos form/injuries. None. At best clubs will try and get them when they're out if contact.

2) De Jong is on way too much money, at €400k a week is would pretty much go in as anyone's top earner straight away. He is a very good player but I don't see many clubs doing that. PSG and City maybe, but they seem to have other priorities atm. As for Ter Stegan, again on big wages and is there a top club that genuinely need a GK with massive wages? Some may say Utd but with De Gea on £300k+ cannot see the club going for it, even if Henderson is sold for decent money (don't think he will be.)

It would represent an upgrade for us in the GK position though and surely cash plus DDG for Ter Stegan might make them think? They can get a transfer fee and a replacement keeper that they can sell to their fanbase and we know Dave would be interested in a return to Spain due to his family situation. Sell Henderson and put that cash plus DDG into an offer for Ter Stegan and we upgrade the position and reduce our wage bill by removing two salaries from the books in the place of one.

 

[The United Irishman]

Well... thats kind the point. Its not "only" social media, that little detail generates billions and billions every year. Internet media is consumed worldwide instantly, everyone carries a screen on their pocket, thats why modern players have so much more reach.

Thats why you cant compare Beckham in early 2000's to Messi in 2020, when talking about the money they generate. Im not only comparing their popularity or their football ability, but the money they can each generate with the tools at their disposals. Messi had every single thing Beckham had in the early 2000's except more, but also has the internet as a way to reaching to customers.

Thats why worldwide superstar Beckham was sold for 35M to Madrid, yet any mediocre/goodish player can be sold for 50M nowadays, and superstars go for 200M or more. There's much more money on football nowadays.

So no, you cant compare Beckham leaving United to Messi leaving Barcelona. Its just laughable. Unless someone finds a pic of Beckham with Jordan or someone super important, if so i stand corrected and im completely wrong.

The problem is, you are correct, in footballing terms Messi is/was miles ahead of Becks, but as a pin up, fashion icon, global celebrity, influencer, and one of the most famous brands and faces on the planet....Messi does not touch what Beckham was at that time. Social Media is an open market for everyone but back then that market was closed to a very exclusive club, with Beckham at the forefront of that club, being on the face of every magazine, referenced in Hollywood films, a pin up for women, a pin up for the LBGBT+ community, on every prime time show, in countless fashion ads, aftershave ads, car ad's, watch ads, the list goes on. I'm afraid you have no idea.

 

[Ole's screen]

Because Messi is a religious figure in barcelona

Nobita's options were:
A) give messi whatever he wants
B) lose Messi and relocate himself and his family out of catalunya

This isn't hyperbole, i'm 100% serious here

Then they really deserve to suffer as a club and a football fanbase because that is cult-like behaviour.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

It would represent an upgrade for us in the GK position though and surely cash plus DDG for Ter Stegan might make them think? They can get a transfer fee and a replacement keeper that they can sell to their fanbase and we know Dave would be interested in a return to Spain due to his family situation. Sell Henderson and put that cash plus DDG into an offer for Ter Stegan and we upgrade the position and reduce our wage bill by removing two salaries from the books in the place of one.

Wouldn’t they just be swapping one keeper on big wages for another?

 

[Dave Smith]

Wouldn’t they just be swapping one keeper on big wages for another?

This, in fact it may be even worse for them as DdG is on even bigger wages.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

This, in fact it may be even worse for them as DdG is on even bigger wages.

Indeed. If they are after a United keeper, they would be better off looking at Lee Grant.

 

[UncleBob]

Ter Stegen

God no.

 

[Kentonio]

As for Ter Stegan, again on big wages and is there a top club that genuinely need a GK with massive wages? Some may say Utd but with De Gea on £300k+ cannot see the club going for it, even if Henderson is sold for decent money (don't think he will be.)

Chelsea are apparently looking for a new no1 to replace Kepa, as Mendy was never intended as a full replacement. Although personally I think he's been absolutely fine.

 

[De Portago]

There's one thing I don't quite understand, how the heck did Barcelona pass this salary cap test last summer with wages at 600+ million? Pandemic has already started, stadiums were empty and it was obvious they would remain so at least during the majority of the current season, all of the huge transfers were already completed. Yet they were within the rules, and now all of a sudden they need to cut the wage bill in half?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Chelsea are apparently looking for a new no1 to replace Kepa, as Mendy was never intended as a full replacement. Although personally I think he's been absolutely fine.

Surely Mendy at £22m was bought as a no 1?

 

[bosnian_red]

There's one thing I don't quite understand, how the heck did Barcelona pass this salary cap test last summer with wages at 600+ million? Pandemic has already started, stadiums were empty and it was obvious they would remain so at least during the majority of the current season, all of the huge transfers were already completed. Yet they were within the rules, and now all of a sudden they need to cut the wage bill in half?

Last year they did some creative accounting with the Pjanic and Arthur swap which essentially delayed their troubles by a year. Also a much bigger impact after a full season of covid. Also their wages and transfer fees were out of control for a while even if covid didn't happen, and it's catching up with them now. Covid just accelerated the issues that have been there.

 

[bosnian_red]

1) No one in their right mind are taking Griezmann, Coutinho or Dembele. Absolutely none. Ignore the injuries the problem is wages. Who is going to take on €800k, €280k or €230k a week for one of those players? Especially with Greizmann's age and the other twos form/injuries. None. At best clubs will try and get them when they're out if contact.

2) De Jong is on way too much money, at €400k a week is would pretty much go in as anyone's top earner straight away. He is a very good player but I don't see many clubs doing that. PSG and City maybe, but they seem to have other priorities atm. As for Ter Stegan, again on big wages and is there a top club that genuinely need a GK with massive wages? Some may say Utd but with De Gea on £300k+ cannot see the club going for it, even if Henderson is sold for decent money (don't think he will be.)

De Jong is one of the untouchables for Barca anyway

 

[TheRedDevil2019]

Messi's true colors are showing. He's clearly waiting for Bárca to offload players to then mop up the released wages and sign the deal as it will then be within budget. It won't be as much as he's on now obviously, but it certainly won't be a 30% hit or more like Depay, Aguero and others have took.

 

[TheReligion]

Chelsea are apparently looking for a new no1 to replace Kepa, as Mendy was never intended as a full replacement. Although personally I think he's been absolutely fine.

Over 100m on keepers and still want another.

Just like city.

 

[Gandalf]

Wouldn’t they just be swapping one keeper on big wages for another?

Yes but they would also be getting a transfer fee so it still helps the overall financial picture. Not saying it is in any way likely but I don't believe we have a long term first choice keeper at the club right now and we will need to address that sooner rather than later.

 

[tjb]

People can talk all they want about how much United and City spent, but the sums on this thread are ridiculous. Where was FFP?? It wasn't made to limit newcomers, it was meant to prevent club bankruptcy. How can Griezman be on 800k a week?? 400k on De Jong, who had only had one or two good season at Ajax. The cost of keeping Messi is one thing, but spending stupidly on Couthinho, Griezman and Dembele has to be the worst business done in football, especially when wages are considered.

I'm sure Madrid's Financials aren't better, but at least you can see the result of it over the last 10 years. Most of those funds are probably allocated to the stars of their champions league dominance, which is fair.

What's baffling is all the posturing and talks about how much English clubs are spending. Chelsea, City, Liverpool and our wage bills don't look like that. It's the reason I want rid of Pogba. Some on here say, it's not our money, but it does have its costs. This is an example of that. Haaland is the next one that will demand rubbish wages.

 

[VanKenny]

I believe his point is with newer streams of commercial revenue and Football being more globalized now than it was 20 years ago, the money Messi brings into the club as a % of total income of the club is greater.

Yep, as simple as this. The discussion started because someone stated that the consequences of Utd losing Beckham's could be comparable to those of Messi leaving Barca. They arent comparable in anyway whatsoever.


To discuss the differences in their popularities, well thats not really the main point but still, just today Messi has 5X the amount of followers Beckham has. I imagine Beckham in 2000 had even less people "following" him, due to the fact that the internet was simply not mainstream. People consumed media back then way less than they do today, there's data of people consuming internet for multiple hours during their work schedule.. its just a whole diff world.

 

[Daysleeper]

Messi's true colors are showing. He's clearly waiting for Bárca to offload players to then mop up the released wages and sign the deal as it will then be within budget. It won't be as much as he's on now obviously, but it certainly won't be a 30% hit or more like Depay, Aguero and others have took.

it’ll be a sizeable hit I’m sure, he knows the club is broke. This will probably be his lowest contract since he signed with the team, he’s only playing with Barca for two more years (seems to be the plan)

but again, until Barca sort out their current mess, we don’t know the details of his pending contract

 

[Tallis]

Will Barca sell us Araujo. He seems to be a hidden gem. 20-30m ? Would pay 2 months of Messi salary

 

[Kentonio]

Surely Mendy at £22m was bought as a no 1?

Apparently not. He was supposedly seen as a stopgap for Kepa and then second keeper later.

Over 100m on keepers and still want another.

Just like city.

Not really, Courtois pulling his shit dropped the club deeply in it, and Kepa was basically a horrendously expensive panic buy.

I learned a while ago that apparently the goalkeeper in Russia is seen as a much more high profile position than in most of Europe, which might explain why Roman has always opened his wallet to ensure we have top keepers.

Kepa by anyone's measure has been a dismal failure though, so it's normal we'd want to replace him. I'm just surprised the club don't have more faith in Mendy personally.

 

[Pocho]

Apparently without Messi, Barcelona are like Newcastle in terms of their commercial clout.

they had 1 champions league less than Notingham Forest, so...

 

[Dave Smith]

Chelsea are apparently looking for a new no1 to replace Kepa, as Mendy was never intended as a full replacement. Although personally I think he's been absolutely fine.

Cannot see Chelsea doing a Ter Stegen, they may go for a top quality GK2 to help the manager when Mendy goes to the ACoN. Additionally, their main holes for CF, CM and possibly RWB. Can't see them doing serious money for a GK when Mendy was so great, even if he had been initially deemed a stop gap.

There's one thing I don't quite understand, how the heck did Barcelona pass this salary cap test last summer with wages at 600+ million? Pandemic has already started, stadiums were empty and it was obvious they would remain so at least during the majority of the current season, all of the huge transfers were already completed. Yet they were within the rules, and now all of a sudden they need to cut the wage bill in half?

More than a club. Don't you know?

 

[Iker Quesadillas]

How can Griezman be on 800k a week?? 400k on De Jong, who had only had one or two good season at Ajax. The cost of keeping Messi is one thing, but spending stupidly on Couthinho, Griezman and Dembele has to be the worst business done in football, especially when wages are considered.

I don't think the salaries are that high (they're still very high).

 

[Eendracht maakt macht]

If there is a fire sale, which is looking very likely, the very last people to go would be the likes of Pedri, Fati and Moriba.

They are more likely to try and push on Griezmann, Dembele and Coutinho first, but Couthinho and Dembele are injured and Griezmann has said he is not leaving. So if that doesn't work it's likely you could see ter Stegen and De Jong up for sale , there's plenty who would like to buy one of those two and I can't help but think that Messi will have to go. Imagine Grealish, Kane and Messi all signing for City!

De Jong they will definitely want to keep. Wasn’t he their player of the year?

 

[KennyBurner]

I used to pray for times like this. They can Rest In Piss.

We should take pedri off their hands. Smart fella with a nice weighted pass on him.

 

[meto84]

How old are you if I may ask?

Definitely under 21. Beckham is on par with CR7 if not even more popular. Definitely top 2 of all time easily.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

it’ll be a sizeable hit I’m sure, he knows the club is broke. This will probably be his lowest contract since he signed with the team, he’s only playing with Barca for two more years (seems to be the plan)

but again, until Barca sort out their current mess, we don’t know the details of his pending contract

It seems signing Aguero and Memphis is what creating the current mess.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

They can Rest In Piss.

 

[Hulksmash]

Stupid question , where was FFP? It's relaxed now but before the pandemic, it was apparently on use.

Like how is a 650M wagebill even possible ?

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Messi, De Jong, Pedri, Busquets are worth kept since those four are their key players. Keeping Messi is worth more than keeping Pjanic, Umtiti, Dembele, and Coutinho all together.

 

[padr81]

People can talk all they want about how much United and City spent, but the sums on this thread are ridiculous. Where was FFP?? It wasn't made to limit newcomers, it was meant to prevent club bankruptcy. How can Griezman be on 800k a week?? 400k on De Jong, who had only had one or two good season at Ajax. The cost of keeping Messi is one thing, but spending stupidly on Couthinho, Griezman and Dembele has to be the worst business done in football, especially when wages are considered.

I'm sure Madrid's Financials aren't better, but at least you can see the result of it over the last 10 years. Most of those funds are probably allocated to the stars of their champions league dominance, which is fair.

What's baffling is all the posturing and talks about how much English clubs are spending. Chelsea, City, Liverpool and our wage bills don't look like that. It's the reason I want rid of Pogba. Some on here say, it's not our money, but it does have its costs. This is an example of that. Haaland is the next one that will demand rubbish wages.

Cause Javier Tebas is a massive hypocritical cnut of epic proportions who'll try and blame this on City after overseeing the death of the strongest league in Europe.

 

[KennyBurner]

All that dominance while being corrupt and paying obscene wages they couldn't afford. Should have happened sooner. Lets watch how they wriggle out of this current mess.

 

[Daysleeper]

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[Florent Torchut] Messi has agreed to lower his salary to less than half of what he earned before but not even that is enough to comply with the La Liga salary cap

 

[UncleBob]

Wonder what Barcelonas wage cap will be next season if they can't sign Messi, their revenue will fall by somewhere around 30-50%