Analysis: Why FC Barcelona need a replacement for Josep Bartomeu

Several allegations of mismanagement have been directed towards the club President over the years.

"Mes que un club" reads the motto of Spanish footballing giants FC Barcelona, who have it etched into the amphitheater of the Camp Nou as a reminder to the world that they are more than just a football club. In fact, when millions of fans follow the La Liga outfit, it is not just for football but also due to various socio-political reasons.

Be it the club's attractive style of playing the passing game, their unflinching stand in the issue of Cataloniaa's independence from Spain or their ability to integrate domestic talent with some of the world's best players to produce remarkable results on the pitch - FC Barcelona have always maintained the difference. However, the situation at the club is gloomy since some time, and it has begun to affect their performances on the pitch.

Upon closer inspection, you will understand that Josep Maria Bartomeu, the club's President can be somehow deemed responsible for some of the problems. As the president, Bartomeu was responsible for most of the recent policies and plans of FC Barcelona, including their decision to rely on big-money signings rather than homegrown talent following Neymar's exit in 2017. He also played a key role in the team's recent managerial changes, including the appointment of Quique Setien as Ernesto Valverde's replacement - a decision which has not gone well with fans, players and even other board members.

It has been revealed that Josep Maria Bartomeu does not share a good relationship with several board members of the club, with Rousaud himself revealing that he resigned after he told him to leave. "He asked us (Rousaud and five other board members) to leave without warning. We cannot reverse the way the club is managed in the face of important challenges in the future, especially in the post-pandemic era,” the New York Times quoted him saying in a recent interview.

This is, in fact, not the first time that Bartomeu's reign has come under scrutiny for alleged falling out with board members. A similar issue arose in 2014, but the domestic and continental success achieved by the Lionel Messi-led side back then, succeeded majorly in diverting attention away from the 57-year-old and the club's backroom issues.

It was the FC Barcelona President who decided to appoint Ernesto Valverde as Luis Enrique's successor at the end of the 2016-17 season. Although the former Valencia and Athletic Bilbao manager had ample experience in the Spanish top-flight, he was not capable of leading them in continental competitions including the Champions League - something which experts pointed out even before his appointment.

The warnings turned out to be true, as the Catalans got knocked out of the competition in both seasons under Valverde - and that eventually led to his sacking. His replacement, Quique Setien, also did not have a Champions League pedigree and that has sadly reflected in the club's performances this season. In a recent game, the likes of Lionel Messi were also spotted seemingly ignoring the ex-Real Betis boss, making fans question the purpose behind his role at the club.

Stars like Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique have made it clear in numerous interviews that European glory is one of their biggest aims every season. The fact that Bartomeu has resorted to appointing sub-par managers who do not seem able to handle the task is therefore disappointing, outrageous even.

Ahead of the 2017-18 season, the Blaugrana were dealt a blow, when Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain signed Neymar Jr. for a whopping €220 million. It remains a world-record signing till date - and while the club lost a generational star, they also gained a huge amount of money which should have been used in a more thoughtful manner, looking back.

Since Neymar's exit, Barcelona under Bartomeu started splashing money on big-name signings like Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann, and each of them arrived at the club as potential replacements for the Brazilian. By doing so, the club seemed to forget that they had a distinctive playing style which has helped them remain successful over a long period of time.

It did not help the players either, as they were largely forced to play out of their usual positions to accommodate others, causing a dip in their quality and making them seem ineffective.

They also spent excess cash on signings like Malcom and Arthur, both of whom did not play at Camp Nou for long. Despite so many signings, FC Barcelona have already lost more games this season than in the past two years, and are looking all set to lose out on the La Liga title.

To think they had an excess of €200 million with them which they wasted over a space of just three seasons, reflects the poor transfer policy that the club has adopted in recent times.

FC Barcelona are also alleged to have broken FIFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules multiple times under Bartomeu, who has been keen to acquire big-money signings of late. Such allegations of corruption and mismanagement have put the club under scanner in recent times, and have also caused immense pressure on their players on the pitch.