Like a worm-filled peach, Barcelona appear to be rotting from the inside. After the departure of Neymar and the inability to bring in a replacement (they reportedly have given up on Philippe Coutinho), Barcelona's business-folk have not been holding up their end of the bargain.
Neymar fled to PSG for a reason, which he expanded on this weekend:
"I spent four beautiful years there and parted happy," said the 25-year-old. "But with them [the board], no.
"For me, they are not the people who should be there, for the direction of Barca. Barca deserve much better."
Well, that could just be the ramblings of a disgruntled former employee who just wanted to send a few parting shots after he had left. What do Barcelona's current players have to say?
Andres Iniesta, for one, is showing signs of discontent:
"I've still not renewed.
"I've experienced a lot of sensations I've not known before, but I think they're normal. It's a scenario which three years ago I could never have imagined.
"Let's say I'm thinking about my future when before I wasn't."
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has not signed his new contract, and has been linked with a move to Manchester City. I do not believe these links are anything for Barcelona to be worried about. Yet.
Former Barcelona President Joan Laporta said that to keep Messi Barcelona would have to get rid of current boss Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Si volem que #Messi continuï a gust al Barça hem de fer fora Bartomeu immediatament #ViaForaBartomeu
— Joan Laporta Estruch (@JoanLaportaFCB) August 20, 2017
Barcelona has, obviously, denied that such a rift exists between the club and Messi.
If the board is actively causing players to become disgruntled, it's probably time to get a new board. Footballers are just like any other employees, they'll leave to find a better situation if they become unhappy.
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