Sport

Richard Fitzpatrick: Struggling Barcelona seek satisfaction on the stock market to awaken club’s fanbase

Legendary club paid exorbitant fees to buy players but then often sold them for a pittance. Now Messi’s gone and the once mighty team seem rudderless

Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards with the Rolling Stones branded Barçelona jersey. Picture: Barçelona FC

Last year, FC Barcelona threatened legal action against their Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The club tried to annul his contract from October 2020, alleging terms given to him by Barça’s previous board of directors involved criminality, and that he was implicated.

Yevhen Levchenko, chairman of the Dutch players’ union, maintained De Jong was being extorted, a claim denied by Barça.

Desperate to sell him, Barça agreed a transfer fee with Manchester United, but the ...