The former Barça executive and one of the leading figures in the opposition criticized the current FC Barcelona board’s financial management, accused Laporta of “taking over the club” and announced that he will present his project on November 27.
Regarding the club’s finances, Vilajoana and the economist and lawyer, Jordi Mercader, pointed out that Joan Laporta’s term “would have accumulated 1 billion in losses if existing club assets had not been sold.”
Xavier Vilajoana , former FC Barcelona director and a leading voice of the opposition within the club, presented the independent report “Economic X-ray of FC Barcelona (2005-2025)” this Wednesday, alongside economist Jordi Mercader . The report, commissioned by Vilajoana and authored by Mercader, an economist, lawyer, and professor of Strategy, Marketing, and Finance at Pompeu Fabra University, analyzes the club’s economic evolution over the past two decades, with a particular focus on the last eight years. It is based on official data, audits, and the club’s annual reports.
“They have been lying and hiding the figures for four years.”
Vilajoana ‘s tone was particularly critical of the current board: “They say they have saved the club, but if they hadn’t sold existing assets, they would have lost one billion euros, which is the current value of the first team.”
“They’ve been lying and hiding the figures for four years. Barça is a serious club and should set an example. A president is given the responsibility to manage, not to take ownership of the club. The one billion figure is terrifying,” he concluded.
He also pointed to the loss of connection with the partners: “With a budget of one billion, can’t a portion be allocated for the partners? It hasn’t been taken into account at any point. It’s hard to understand.”
The Messi case and sports management
Vilajoana recalled Leo Messi ‘s departure as a turning point: “ Messi ‘s departure was based on financial reasons. It was said that the club couldn’t afford the best player in the world. If the reason was financial, I don’t see it anywhere now. I’ll end with a question: let Laporta tell us the real reason why Messi was let go,” he insisted.
He also wanted to distance the Argentine player from any political disputes: “ Messi should be left alone. The club is his home, regardless of the president. It would be a mistake to try to take over a figure like him.”
Mercader warns of an “unsustainable” debt
Economist and lawyer Jordi Mercader detailed the main findings of the economic analysis: “Barça has accumulated €277 million in losses during the current term, which would have been €1 billion without the sale of assets. According to the report presented, “FC Barcelona is now the most indebted club in the history of European football, with a total debt amounting to €4.12 billion, representing an increase of 293% since 2021.”
The total liabilities stand at around 1.7 billion, which rise to 4.2 billion when including the financing of Espai Barça .
“The working capital is negative by 266 million, the net worth is also negative, and the short- and long-term debt is the highest in Europe. We are selling off our inheritance to pay the electricity bill,” Mercader summarized .
The economist also criticized the operations of Barça Media Studios , the transfer of television rights to Sixth Street, the VIP seating arrangements, and the loss of investment in La Masia, “which has gone from 35-40 million to around 25.” “Reducing investment in La Masia is weakening a regenerative asset, the jewel in the crown,” he warned.
The 2020-21 accounts under scrutiny
Vilajoana and Mercader also recalled that in the 2020-21 financial year, with Laporta already at the helm, losses of nearly 500 million euros were presented to the members, attributed to the previous administration. However, they emphasized that the documentation submitted to the Tax Office contained different figures, a fact that, in their opinion, “demonstrates a lack of accounting consistency and transparency” in the club’s financial reporting.
“The Espai Barça project has become more expensive due to erroneous decisions”
Vilajoana also addressed the Spotify Camp Nou project: “The previous board already had the license. The changes imposed by the new management, such as the demolition of the third tier, caused delays and increased interest rates. Thinking of themselves instead of the club has cost Barça dearly. It’s a joke.”
Club model and future
The former executive defended a model based on homegrown talent: “La Masia cannot be a plan B when there is no money. Investing in the youth academy is the most efficient approach. Strategies and models cannot be improvised. Homegrown talent is what guarantees the club’s sustainability, but for that, you have to invest and be on top of things.”
Vilajoana announced that he will present his project for the elections on November 27. “If I run, it will be with the intention of proposing, explaining, and persuading. I don’t like ‘Frankenstein’ projects – referring to unifying candidacies and proposals. Everyone should forge their own path. I’m going to work on mine.”
Vilajoana wanted to close the press conference with a message of hope: “I’m optimistic because we’ll deal with it when we can. Barça has a solution, but it requires will and responsibility. What we can’t do is say that everything is fantastic for four years,” he concluded.
