FC Barcelona is grappling with ongoing personnel issues, highlighted by the controversial €55 million signing of Dani Olmo, who may not play this season. Additionally, former player Thomas Heurtel’s potential return was halted amid fan backlash and club president Joan Laporta’s scrutiny. Heurtel expressed disappointment over the failed deal, complicating his already tumultuous history with the club. Meanwhile, the club’s financial struggles have raised questions about its ability to support its players, further tarnishing its reputation.
FC Barcelona’s Ongoing Personnel Drama
FC Barcelona is currently facing a series of significant personnel blunders that seem to unfold weekly. The club’s recent dealings, particularly the multi-million euro fiasco involving Dani Olmo, have raised eyebrows, while fans have also played a role in obstructing an emotional return to the basketball division.
The Basketball Team’s Controversial Situation
Renowned as one of the biggest clubs in the world, FC Barcelona prides itself on being ‘Més que un club’ – more than just a club. However, the current atmosphere surrounding the esteemed Catalan team resembles that of a disorganized amateur outfit. The controversy surrounding the €55 million acquisition of Dani Olmo, who will likely not feature for the football team this season, is just one aspect of the club’s troubling image.
On the basketball front, former French international Thomas Heurtel aimed to rejoin FC Barcelona after a previous stint that ended in an unusual and tumultuous manner. In 2021, club officials were informed that Heurtel was in negotiations with their rivals, Real Madrid, rather than Fenerbahce Istanbul. This led to the point guard being left stranded at the Istanbul airport shortly before Christmas after a European Cup match against Anadolu Efes.
The department head at the time expressed, “After what he did… they all agreed he should stay in Istanbul. While I don’t see it that way, the majority ruled.” Following this episode, Heurtel went on to sign with Real Madrid and remained there until the summer of 2022.
Fast forward to now, and it seemed like the dust had settled enough for the two sides to reconnect. Heurtel was ready to sign with FC Barcelona, making his way from China to Barcelona with his family. However, a sudden turn of events left him bewildered. “I was informed that the deal fell through, and to this day, I have not received an explanation,” shared Heurtel’s agent, David Carro Funes.
The cancellation reportedly stemmed from the club’s president, Joan Laporta, who is under heavy scrutiny due to the club’s dismal public perception. FC Barcelona fans have not forgotten Heurtel’s previous embarrassment and have protested vigorously. Recently, ten influential fan organizations issued an open letter demanding Laporta’s resignation over what they termed ‘the attempt to sign a basketball player of dubious reputation with regrettable practices.’ This backlash seemingly prompted a presidential rollback to avoid further PR disasters.
Heurtel expressed his disappointment, stating, “I feel like I’ve been laughed at again.” The 31-year-old had previously ended his national career by moving to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg during the invasion of Ukraine, despite a commitment from national players not to play for Russian or Belarusian teams. He added, “This situation is even worse because my family was involved.” Thankfully, coach Joan Peñarroya did extend an apology for the mishap.
As a side note, FC Barcelona had attracted Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig with great fanfare and significant financial investment. Yet, it has now become evident that the league is questioning the club’s ability to financially support the European champion, leading to a denial of his eligibility to play in the second half of the season. This is yet another embarrassment for the club in a series of misfortunes.