‘Barcelona will never become Ajax’

Robin Bairner

• 1 Mar 2024 02:08 CST
• 3 min read

Barcelona do not face the prospect of tumbling into relative European obscurity, according to LaLiga chief Javier Tebas.

The outspoken Tebas aimed a painful dig at Ajax, who were once a major continental force but who are no longer the force they were 30 years ago as the financial realities of the modern game make deep runs in the Champions League a novelty.

Concerns have been raised over Barcelona’s precarious financial position, yet Tebas is insistent that the fate that befell Ajax is not something that the Camp Nou side will replicate.

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Tebas spoke about Barcelona's situation at the Financial Times Summit in London, a meeting focused on the financial situation of clubs in Europe.

Barca are laden with hundreds of millions of euros in debt but are still able to attract new players and retain their leading stars, like Frenkie de Jong, who they signed from Ajax.

According to Tebas, the comparison with the Eredivisie side, which has had to sell its best players for years, is not valid: "That is absolutely not the case."

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Ajax are still seen worldwide as one of the treasure troves of top football, but also as a club that is forced to say goodbye to its best players every year. That will not be the case at Barcelona, Tebas said in conversation with the Spanish media.

“Barcelona will get out of the situation it is in,” he promised. “Financially speaking, Barcelona has several hot irons in the fire.”

Only short-term pain at Barcelona

According to Tebas, Barcelona could solve the short-term problems by selling some strong players, but this does not have to become a long-term policy.

“Barcelona is a club that earns almost a billion euros a year. But it is no secret that Barcelona is going through a difficult period. Especially given the limits of the Financial Fair Play regulations,” he said. “Barcelona is still active in the Champions League and still participates at the top of LaLiga. There is no reason to be so catastrophic about Barcelona.”

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