Barcelona operated at a significant financial deficit in the previous season, leading to certain “cuts” during the summer.
To be honest, there were many illogical moves by the club’s management, primarily serving as an “excuse” to terminate the contracts of players like Nikola Mirotic. However, let’s start from the beginning.
Before the start of the 2023/2024 competitive season, the Catalan club decided to reduce the basketball section’s budget to 30 million euros. According to information from “Playbook2,” Barcelona operated with a staggering deficit of 56.6 million euros during the previous season.
It’s clear that the biggest part of this deficit was caused by the contracts of players like Mirotić, as well as coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and Cory Higgins. Their contracts amount to approximately 25 million euros, which will not be included for the ongoing season.
Considering the results, it’s evident that they didn’t live up to expectations in the EuroLeague. Their goal was to win the elite European competition, but when the most crucial match for them arrived at the Final Four against Real Madrid, the Catalans “packed their bags,” and their highest-paid player delivered one of the worst performances in his career.
Considering the results, it’s clear that their expectations were not justified in the EuroLeague. Their goal was to win the elite European competition, but when the most crucial match for them arrived at the Final Four against Real Madrid, the Catalans “packed their bags,” and their highest-paid player delivered one of the worst performances in his career.
They found consolation in winning the Liga Endesa championship, but if you were to ask them how satisfied they are with that achievement now, they probably wouldn’t show a high level of joy. Nevertheless, they had to make room for a new trophy in their trophy room, so they can’t consider this competitive year entirely unsuccessful. On the other hand, financially speaking, calling it a failure might be an understatement.
Is it a weak excuse?
The next logical question, following these events, is how much money Barcelona actually managed to save? It’s clear that Roger Grimau doesn’t earn anywhere near what Sarunas Jasikevicius did. It’s also not a secret that, from a business standpoint, Mirotić made a fantastic move in the end. Barcelona, however, can’t boast the same.
Moreover, the arrivals of names like Willy Hernangomez and Jabari Parker from the NBA caravan don’t exactly confirm any significant cost savings. The cards are still on the table, and their goals are just as ambitious. They aim to defend their title in the Liga Endesa, while on the EuroLeague map, they have their sights set on winning. Their last EuroLeague title came in the 2009/2010 season. For a club of such stature, the drought is undeniably lasting too long.
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