Barcelona are ‘out of hospital’ after Lewandowski signing to begin post-Messi period
Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated the membership are “out of the hospital” when it comes to their monetary state of affairs because the LaLiga giants unveiled striker Robert Lewandowski on the Camp Nou in entrance of 57,300 followers.
Lionel Messi departed Barcelona on account of monetary issues precisely one yr to the day that the membership introduced Europe’s two-time main goalscorer after he sealed his switch from Bayern Munich.
“A yr in the past, sadly, we needed to announce an undesirable state of affairs because of the membership’s financial state of affairs, however a yr has handed and we will say that we’re turning issues round,” Laporta stated of the membership’s failure to register Messi’s new contract with LaLiga final summer time to adjust to the league’s monetary honest play guidelines.
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Laporta claimed in August that his board had inherited a membership report debt of €1.35 billion however the sale of property this summer time has allowed Barca to spend over €150 million within the switch window.
“It has been a really troublesome yr for us,” Laporta stated. “We have had so many huge selections to make and with a number of strain.
“A yr later, we’re turning the state of affairs round. We have now to proceed to work. However we will say from a monetary standpoint, we’re out of the hospital. We nonetheless need to be cautious.
“Barca has introduced in €800m prior to now two months. We have now made an important effort. We have now needed to promote some property however we will get these again sooner or later.
“We’re working to assist Barca return to be a reference in soccer. We’re getting again to the place we belong.”
Regardless of the revealing of Lewandowski, he’s but to be registered together with the opposite new signings.
“We have now labored onerous to register the entire gamers not simply Robert,” Laporta stated. “It is a LaLiga choice and we’re ready. I believe we have now completed every thing they’ve requested for. “
Forward of Barca’s league opener in opposition to Rayo Vallecano on Aug. 13, a fourth monetary injection has been permitted by the Catalan membership ought to they should use it to adjust to the strict spending caps in LaLiga.
“Concerning the fourth monetary injection [the sale of a further 24.5% of Barça Studios to the company Socios.com for €100m], it was one thing we had deliberate to do as a precaution simply in case there’s a distinction of interpretation [with LaLiga],” Laporta added. “It has been permitted by the membership, however we hope we need not undergo with it. If we have now to make use of it, we are going to.”
Regardless of the uncertainty across the registration of his new signings, Laporta beamed with delight when speaking about Lewandowski.
“Right this moment is a historic day for Barca,” he stated. “We’re all excited {that a} participant of Robert’s calibre is right here. We’re heading in the right direction. We see within the switch market than gamers need to come and play at Barca.
“We needed a high striker. If a genie got here and gave us three needs, we might have requested him for a scorer, one which has gained the Golden Shoe a number of instances and to be a aim assure. And that is Robert.
“There have been many golf equipment that had supplied Robert higher monetary circumstances, however he selected to come back to Barca and that’s the reason I am so grateful to him.”
Barcelona endured a troublesome marketing campaign on and off the pitch final season however the Poland worldwide stated he’s targeted on having fun with a profitable spell at Barca.
“Once they defined the challenge, I knew I needed to come back,” he stated. “It should be a unique season with respect to the final.
“It wasn’t straightforward to go away Bayern after eight years however it’s the right subsequent step for me and my household. I used to be prepared for this.
“It is a huge problem for me to be the very best of Barcelona and to push different gamers to offer their finest with my big expertise. We have now a number of younger gamers with big potential, however the mixture of youth and expertise is essential and if I will help them, I’ll do it.”
Lewandowski, who will flip 34 on Aug. 21, signed a four-year contract with Barca.
“I do not really feel that I am 33 or 34,” he added. “I really feel I can play on the high stage for extra years.
“Actual Madrid did very properly within the Champions League and LaLiga final season. We’re there additionally to attempt to beat Actual Madrid.
“I am desperate to play in opposition to them. However I am not considering of Actual Madrid or rivalling Karim Benzema. He’s a rare participant that has performed a few years in LaLiga. For me, it is essential to play properly with Barca.”
