Barcelona’s financial vice president Eduard Romeu has stepped down from his position at the club.
A Barcelona statement released on Thursday morning said Romeu submitted his resignation to president Joan Laporta “citing incompatibility with full dedication to his professional work” as the reason for his departure.
However, a source close to Romeu — who, like all those cited here, preferred to speak anonymously to protect their position — told The Athletic that Barcelona’s ongoing financial problems were the motivating factor behind his decision to leave.
“The enemy is outside the club,” Romeu told a press conference on Thursday morning — in which no questions from the media were taken. “When we started this it seemed that nobody could save it, but the courage that Laporta has given us has allowed us to fight.”
Romeu added: “To see a great Barcelona, we still need to make complex decisions. But there is still that final point that we must reach and we will follow our path with the same strength.”
Romeu was widely seen as one of the most important of Barca’s executives, and his departure will leave the club in a difficult spot, faced as it is by numerous financial difficulties.
Barcelona president Laporta said: “Eduard’s functions can continue to be carried out by the economic team. Romeu leaves a great team that is capable of continuing his work.
“He has been key in the economic work of the club and we will continue to follow his advice. He leaves an economic area department who are prepared to continue his work.”
Recently, Barca sources told The Athletic there was a shortfall of about €30million in the budget for this season, which was put down to lower than expected matchday revenue from home matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Montjuic.
Meanwhile in February, La Liga reduced Barca’s salary cap to to €204million, a €66m reduction from the previous cap set in September.
Barcelona’s real squad cost for 2023-24 — the total of salaries and transfer amortisations — is officially budgeted at €492m (£421m). As they have exceeded their level, La Liga rules say they must make cuts before signing any more players.
The sale of key first-team players could be the only possible solution to the constraints imposed by the club’s historic debts of more than €1billion and the financial sustainability regulations of La Liga and European football’s governing body UEFA.
Barca have resorted to pulling several economic ‘levers’ in recent years to stay afloat, despite significant cost-cutting efforts. Nonetheless, the club still boasts one of the highest wage bills in global football, and La Liga rules on financial ‘levers’ have changed, making the pursuit of similar policies difficult.
Romeu becomes the latest Barcelona executive to leave his role in the past 12 months, following the exits of sporting director Jordi Cruyff and director of football Mateu Alemany last year. Another significant departure was that of Ferran Reverter as the club’s chief executive in February 2022.
Head coach Xavi also announced in January he will be stepping down at the end of the season.
A Barcelona statement read: “President Laporta has accepted (Romeu’s) resignation while thanking him for his work at the head of the club’s economic area, focused on the development of the viability plan put in place during this mandate and which has managed to reverse the financial situation of the institution.”
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(Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images)
