Barcelona President gave a wide ranging interview on the ‘Ágora’ show on TV3, where he insisted that the club will be taking an austere approach to the transfer market this summer. On Arsenal star Fábregas he said
“I don’t know if we will sign Cesc or not. What I am sure of is that he is very keen to come to Barça. But we are not going to repeat the offer of 40 million because with amortizations he is worth less”.
The same cautious approach to the club’s finances will be employed in potential transactions with the likes of Alexis Sánchez and Giuseppe Rossi. Rosell said that the club wants to concentrate on the players that the coaches have asked for and will then decide whether the finances fit the business plan.
“Zubizarreta and Bartomeu are speaking to a lot of other players and alternatives. Depending on the price, we will take one or other. No deals have been closed”, said Rosell.
Rosell wants to put the club back on solid financial ground with an eye to the future.
“When we came in, we found the debt was much bigger than they had told us. We negotiated a syndicate credit with the bank. We were very worried because we had no money to spend. We have sorted out the situation and what the economic area has achieved means we have 45 million to spend on transfers this summer plus sales. We have a business plan and after what we have said, the banks trust us and have given us this credit. But you have to pay credit back.” So Rosell said they have had to make some difficult but necessary decisions. “I am concerned about the club’s economic sustainability. We have to balance the books. In two or three years we hope to be a solvent club”.
Rosell spoke about the historic agreement with the Qatar Foundation, which will bring the club an additional 150 million euros, saying the deal was essential for the club’s financial needs and debts.
Rosell is obviously delighted with everything that Pep Guardiola has been doing.
“We have a very good relation with Pep, excellent. He is a man who likes to renew year by year, if it was down to us we’d renew him for one, two, three, four even five years. He feels comfortable with the players, with the directors, with his surroundings … He works well with Zubi and the new board, and that has shown in the results”. Asked what he felt about being of accused of not supporting his coach during the controversies with Real Madrid, Rosell said “I don’t accept that, and the board have a clear conscience”.
What do you think of the job that Rosel has done as Barcelona President? Are you happy with his focus on the financial side of the club?
photo credit: americanistadechiapas
