More talent, same exit from Europe for Barcelona, risky financial decision far paying dividends

Barcelona’s risky financial decision last year to tre future revenues for much-needed cash to rebuild its squ is so far paying dividends in Spanish competitions.

But it's a different story on wider European st — wher in elite Champions League or second-tier Europa League — which remains full of pitfalls for once dominant Catalan club.

Barcelona exited Europa League on Thursday after Manchester United fought back for a 2-1 win and vanced to round of 16 on a 4-3 aggregate result.

That me it two seasons running that Barcelona hasn't come close to fighting for a Europa League title after failing to even vance from Champions League group st.

"We are missing that little edge and have to learn to compete better in Europe,” Barcelona veteran captain Sergio Busquets said after his team's latest elimination.

Busquets, a World Cup and three-time Champions League winner, kws standard required for success. But magic that me Barcelona an almost untouchable force in Europe h long fed even before Lionel Messi left club two summers ago, with Barcelona accumulating several painful Champions League eliminations topped by its 8-2 debacle to Bayern Munich in 2020.

Barcelona is caught in a prolonged crisis of its own making. With an underperforming team and a debt that stood at 1 billion euros ($1 billion) at start of season, club president Joan Laporta came to conclusion that only way to turn club's fortunes around was to spend money it did t immediately have. So club sold off stakes of its future television revenues and or assets to be able to make several signings, including Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, Brazil forward Raphinha and France defender Jules Koundé.

All three started against United, but result was ar disappointment.

Barcelona coach Xavi said that perhaps his team could have kept control of game — after going ahe through Lewandowski’s first-half penalty — if midfielders Pedri (injured) and Gavi (suspended) h been available.

But Xavi still h Busquets and Nerlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong on field, and it was his decision to give a rare start in midfield to workman Sergi Roberto, inste of providing more punch to his attack with Ansu Fati or Ferran Torres. When pair of Spain forwards went on late as substitutes, United alrey h turned game around with goals by Fred and Antony.

Last April, Barcelona was stunned in Europa League by Frankfurt, whose 3-2 victory at Camp u sent German side through to semifinals on a 4-3 aggregate score.

This time, Barcelona is out of European competition in February. only solace is that y went down to in-form United.

Barcelona failed to get any win in home-and-away games against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in ir Champions League group, where it finished with seven points from six games.

“We have faced very strong rivals and we have competed, t like last season when we weren’t able to,” Xavi said after defeat at Old Trafford. “It just got away from us in details. We just have to try again next year, learn from our mistakes, be self-critical, and turn our focus to league and cup.”

t all is lost for Barcelona, though. It has a commanding eight-point le over Real Mrid in Spanish league and is set to play its fierce rival in Copa del Rey semifinals next week. First it visits Almeria in league on Sunday. Laporta has said that reclaiming league, which it hasn’t won since 2019, is top priority.

But Laporta and his club have more pressing problems. A Spanish state prosecutor is probing Barcelona’s payment of millions of euros over several years to a company that belonged to vice president of refereeing committee in Spain. Barcelona says money was for technical reports on referees and youth players, and denies any attempt to influence referees.

Even if official investigation fails to come up with any wrongdoing, potential reputational dam to Barcelona, and to legacy of its most glorious era under Messi, may alrey be beyond repair for some soccer fans.