Despite last season’s humiliating exit to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Anfield, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his board could look back with a sense of satisfaction at the club’s financial performance.
On paper, things looked rosy. Barca leapfrogged eternal rivals Real Madrid to become football’s biggest earner at the top of the annual Deloitte Money League for 2018-2019, registering a 22 per cent increase in revenue from the previous year. Their income of €840.8 million was a chunky €83.5 million more than Real Madrid’s.
The COVID-19 crisis has changed everything, however. It brings into stark relief several questionable aspects about Barca’s finances, their future earning potential and their ability to remain a force on the pitch in elite football. Continue reading…