The final whistle has finally been blown for Barcelona\u2019s most unpopular president in the history of the Blaugrana giants as Josep Maria Bartomeu and his cohorts in the board have all resigned. This latest development will no doubt bring a huge sigh of relief, and even inebriation, to the loyal supporters at Camp Nou to know that finally the unpopular tenure of Bartomeu has ended.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s perhaps ironical and most likely sheer coincidence that Barca won the treble in Bartomeu\u2019s first full season in charge in 2014-15, spearheaded by the dynamic MSN front three formation of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. However, it is highly unlikely that Bartomeu’s tenure served as the president at Camp Nou will be remembered for that success which would purely be by mere association, if nothing else.<\/p>\n
If anything, it was Bartomeu’s shambolic shenanigans at Board level and failings in the transfer market that led to the corrosion setting in to weaken the ramparts of the proud tradition and foundational strength of the Catalan giants. After Neymar\u2019s seduction by PSG, his subsequent departure left a huge, gaping hole in the frontline that Bartomeu and his board tried desperately, and unsuccessfully, to fill with highly questionable signings that, at best, emptied the coffers.<\/p>\n
Barca subsequently suffered humiliation after humiliation, culminating in their final 8-2 quarter-final annihilation and humiliation in the Champions League at the hands of eventual champions Bayern Munich, triggering a chain reaction of events that ultimately led to club talisman Messi submitting his now apocalyptic burofax to the board bidding them an emphatic \u2018Adieu\u2019 and good riddance, in effect lambasting the ineffectual president for his horrendous reign and lack of integrity.<\/p>\n
Reduced to playing musical chairs with different managers under Bartomeu\u2019s reign, from Valverde to Setien, and now Koeman, the club went through an entire slew of signings – orchestrated by Bartomeu and then Director of Sports, Eric Abidal – that were on the whole below par and nowhere near the high level of expectations that are expected of the Catalonian juggernauts.<\/p>\n
However, not all of Bartomeu’s signings were poor, and we now take a look at the 10 permanent deals that defined, or more appropriately marred, his reign.<\/p>\n
Marc-Andre ter Stegen \u2013\u00a0\u20ac12m from Borussia Monchengladbach<\/strong><\/p>\n That first season of stunning on-pitch triumphs came after an excellent summer transfer window, with new signing Ter Stegen restricted to Champions League action initially as fellow newbie Claudio Bravo manned the sticks in LaLiga. Ter Stegen was quick to prove his worth in the 2014-15 European campaign, keeping a joint-high six clean sheets courtesy of 31 saves, while trailing only Manuel Neuer for successful passes (245) and passing accuracy (80 per cent) among goalkeepers.<\/p>\n Ivan Rakitic \u2013\u00a0\u20ac18m from Sevilla<\/strong><\/p>\n Joining in the \u20ac165m spending spree of 2014, midfielder Rakitic was a consistent performer throughout his time at Camp Nou and only departed this year to return to Sevilla. His best season was reserved for his first 12 months at Barca, scoring five times in LaLiga and laying on seven assists \u2013 the most in his Barca career \u2013 from 35 chances created.<\/p>\n Luis Suarez \u2013\u00a0\u20ac81m from Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n Controversial both on and off the pitch, Uruguyuan Luis Suarez was undoubtedly the most important and best signing during Bartomeu’s tenure, following in that same transfer window as the striker was prised from Liverpool after their failed Premier League title bid in which he netted 31 times. That pristine scoring form continued in the Spanish league and UEFA Champions League, where Suarez struck up a great partnership and friendship with Messi, forming the third vital component of the glorious Messi-Neymar-Suarez triumvirate.<\/p>\n After the recent Champions League debacle and troucing under the hands of a magnificent Bayern Munich team, the Uruguay international was teated shabbily in the midst of a desperate squad reshuffle by new boss Ronald Koeman and left ignominously for Atletico Madrid prior to the 2020-21 campaign – after having scored 198 goals for the club, trailing only Messi and Cesar Rodriguez as the 3rd<\/sup> highest scorer in the history of the club, with a sensational 40 LaLiga goals in 2015-16, along with 16 assists and 23 tackles, typifying his work rate. All three were high marks for his Barca career.<\/p>\n Thomas Vermaelen \u2013\u00a0\u20ac18m from Arsenal<\/strong><\/p>\n The boat that ferried in Ter Stegen, Rakitic and Suarez brought along with it a signing that would prove soon enough to be more in keeping with much of the rest of the nondescript work done under Bartomeu. Vermaelen cost a pretty decent fee, was barely fit and rarely looked like a comfortable fit in the starting XI. In all, he made just 26 LaLiga starts in five years at Barca.<\/p>\n Andre Gomes \u2013\u00a0\u20ac35m from Valencia<\/strong><\/p>\n The 2015-16 transfer window saw Barca commit to only two signings, but were busy in the market again the following campaign. Few, if at all any, of the 2016-17 signings could be considered successes, with Andre Gomes being perhaps the worst of the lot. Signed for a fee that could have risen to \u20ac55m, he scored three goals and provided one assist in the league across two seasons before packing off to Everton.<\/p>\n Ousmane Dembele \u2013\u00a0\u20ac105m from Borussia Dortmund<\/strong><\/p>\n Barca’s dealings had been under heavy scrutiny even before they were force to sell Neymar to the Parisiennes, but the money brought in for the Brazilian was squandered by Bartomeu and his boardroom bozos in diverse ways, burning a huge hole in the club\u2019s pockets. Although Dembele seemed a reasonable enough replacement for Neymar at that time, his incessant injuries disrupted his progress at Camp Nou. With only 12 goals and 11 assists in the league since his signing, he has cut a dismal figure at the Blaugrana and is still trying to justify his presence there today.<\/p>\n Philippe Coutinho \u2013\u00a0\u20ac120m from Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n Barca made a big play for Coutinho when Neymar first left and knocked again on the door of the Liverpool star in January, finally succeeding in their quest to recruit him. Yet the Blaugrana did not appear to have a role made for the playmaker, sticking to a 4-3-3 formation that forced him out wide or deep in the midfield. An initial return of eight goals and five assists from 29 chances created in the remainder of his first season did not provide a platform for success.<\/p>\n Finally deployed to Bayern Munich on loan last season where he miraculously contributed two goals in the destruction of his parent club Barca in the quarter-finals in August in the Champions League, the Brazilian has since been recalled to Camp Nou by Koeman and seems to be discovering a new lease of life there in the new season.<\/p>\n Malcom \u2013\u00a0\u20ac41m from Bordeaux<\/strong><\/p>\n As Barca went big again in 2018-19, there appeared to be a third attempt at replacing Neymar. Malcom was just 21 and should have been one for the future but did not last long. A single season brought one goal and two assists before he left for Zenit.<\/p>\n