Presidential candidate Victor Font is set to challenge for the role of incumbent president Josep Maria Bartomeu in 2021, and has voiced his opinion that Barcelona is at risk of “becoming a new AC Milan or a Manchester United” in being unable to compete for major honors after rivals Real Madrid won their first La Liga title in three years on Thursday.
Font said Barcelona risk being “one of the most successful clubs in Europe that is now not able to compete for the top titles”.
Font has been working on his presidential “project” since 2013 and says the club faces a “perfect storm” in replacing a key generation of players, renovating the Nou Camp and dealing with the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Competition over the last decade has become more and more professional,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast.
“You see in the Premier League with clubs well managed, and even states owning clubs to put in a lot of money at a time where the finance of the club and economic model is stretched to the limit.
“Unless we do what we are trying, Barca has the risk of becoming a new AC Milan or a Manchester United.”
AC Milan last major trophy honors were won in the 2010-11 Serie A while Manchester United have not won the Premier League since 2012-13.
Barcelona captain and talisman Lionel Messi’s latest pronouncements echoed pretty much the same sentiments when he said “things have to change” as the club lost out to Madrid for the title, calling the team “weak” and “very inconsistent”.
Font is currently the only candidate in place to challenge for the post of president of Barca and part of his vision is to bring the club’s former midfielder Xavi back as head coach to replace Quique Setien.
He also wants to ensure forward Messi remains at the club despite his contract being set to expire in 2021.
“He is unhappy and doubting what to do next,” Font added. “He is probably a bit frustrated as year after year he is not able to win, especially the Champions League. That’s where the focus needs to be.
“We want to ensure he understands if we were to run the club from next summer onwards, we would put all the conditions to equip him in the best possible way so the last years of his career here he can still aspire to win a couple of Champions Leagues.”