Barca praise Real Madrid president Perez
Martin Macdonald
- 17 Sept 2021 15:22 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona vice-president Eduard Romeu has praised the business acumen of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Following the collapse of the European Super League, Perez would plead poverty for Los Blancos to the media, saying the tournament was the only way his club would be able to retain their status as one of the richest in the world.
However, he would ultimately contradict these comments a few months later by orchestrating a €200 million bid for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe on deadline day.
That transfer didn't happen, and Madrid are now expected to sign Mbappe on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, while they remain interested in Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
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Romeu concedes it is a possibility that Madrid could sign both players, while also reserving some nice words for Perez.
"It is possible that they could sign Mbappé and Haaland," he said on Radio Marca.
"Madrid is a great club and has a very great strength. If we had done our homework in recent years, we would be in the same situation. Florentino Perez has a club management that is to take off his hat.
"At an economic and business level, no one is going to discover Mr Perez. I have great admiration for him on a business level and on a personal level, he has been very kind every time we have met.
"I can only give words of praise to him."
Barcelona's financial situation
Reports over the summer revealed that Barcelona are currently €1.3 billion in debt, mostly thanks to their exorbitant spending on transfers and wages over the last decade.
Prior to the 2021/22 season they were ordered by La Liga to reduce their wage budget so that it was around 70% of their annual turnover.
It is these new regulations which ultimately led to the departures of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann, the two highest earners at Camp Nou.
Due to their financial situation, the club was forced to shop in the free transfer market in the summer, bringing in Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia.
Romeu says that more and more cuts will need to be made before Barcelona are in a position to enter the race for big signings again.
"We already took the reins in March and in six months we have done an immense job to improve the situation at a structural level," he explained in reference to the change of board and presidency, with Joan Laporta returning to replace the exiled Josep Maria Bartomeu.
"We have to continue working, but we intend to return to business as soon as possible to be at the competitive level. We have to put the salary and expenses of the club in tune to be able to return to the world of transfers and compete face-to-face with the best clubs in Europe."
