Cules and football fans are well aware of Barcelona’s crippled finances. Several revelations have been made on how deep Barcelona are in turmoil and the new President Joan Laporta is trying his best to stabilize the club finances. In such a scenario, a new financial problem could arise if Barcelona fire their manager Ronald Koeman.
After years of mismanagement by the Josep Maria Bartomeu administration, blatant spending and opulent decisions, such a financial nightmare was waiting to happen. The financial experts would’ve predicted long ago that Barca’s finances are going to plummet and the club will be staring at a huge debt.
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Thankfully, there are still few competent people in Barcelona who know how to turn the situation around. Stringent audits, player sales, trimming of wage bills, salary cuts and offloading the deadwood are some of the most basic solutions to replenish the treasury.
The club board has already taken steps to improve the economic situation at the club and while work is being done in the positive direction, a potential hurdle may emerge. Koeman’s dismissal could be a costly affair for Barcelona.
Barcelona will have to pay compensation to Ronald Koeman in the event of a sack
The Dutchman’s job is also under the microscope as Laporta and his associates discuss Koeman’s future. The 58-year-old guided Barcelona to a third-place finish in La Liga, with many debating it was an underachievement and the Blaugrana should’ve gone onto win the title.
The Catalans also exited in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League through the hands of PSG. The untimely exit has further added embarrassment to the club which is expected to go deep in the European competition every year.
Barca did manage to win the Copa del Rey but the whole season cannot be judged as a successful one based on a solitary cup victory. At a club of Barcelona’s magnitude, winning multiple trophies every season is the bare minimum that the fans and board expects.
Koeman’s job may be under threat as Barca is now thinking about whether a coach change is necessary. Laporta has already met with Koeman but no decision has been made yet.
In case the Catalans decided to part ways with the Dutchman, Barcelona will have to offer a big compensation package. According to Mundo Deportivo, if Koeman is relieved of his duties before the end of his two-year contract, Barcelona will be bound to pay 12 million euros as compensation.
Additionally, Koeman took a pay cut during the pandemic in an effort to help the club get through the troubled financial phase. The former Netherlands coach earns around eight to nine million per season. But due to the pandemic, he himself accepted a cut, taking just three to four million euros. In the event of sacking, the manager will have to be additionally paid the amount he had forgone.
Barca have also paid a sum of 4.5 million euros to the Dutch football federation last year when Koeman was signed as he had to break his contract with the Dutch football team. All in all, if Koeman is sacked, it will cost Barcelona upwards of 20 million euros. When the club is already cash strapped, can Barca afford to let go of this money over a sacking?
Should the Blaugrana sack Ronald Koeman?