They went nuts with wages and contracts during the previous era. Even last year, they saddled themselves with short term signings Koeman wanted. I can only imagine they were sort of stuck with most of the deals being set in place by the time Laporta took over and was able to exert control. Either that or he really didn't have any other ideas.
Anyway, what happened last summer is a drop in the ocean compared to what happened before. Greizman, Pjanic, others turned out to be huge burdens, many millions a year more than they are worth. But also, the old guard got big, big contracts. Between Busquets and a few others, the next year or two, most of those contracts expire. Added to that, they've struggled badly with burden of the COVID era and Tebas's barely concealed bias towards Real and aggressive approach towards Barca's finances.
COVID was a shortish term problem that they were left unable to cope with due to what had happened after Neymar's sale. But the burdens of that era should fizzle out, and they'll be left with a good CL side, fighting for the league, with three or four astonishing homegrown talents to take them forward. Seeing themselves through to that point is worth it. They'll never get the Messi era back, but they should be ok.
It's strange to us to watch them act so aggressively towards their own players. But these guys have been caning it in. It's like the hangover we suffered after KK's era - but much much worse. What would you do? Imagine City right up against it. Force Majeure struck, equivalent to COVID. All the incomes and outgoings are changed, forever. We need four signings to stay in the PL. McManaman, Mills and Fowler have 3 years left on top dollar, having lost all form, and the desire to fight to get it back. Not only that, but others who do put the effort in, have accepted pay cuts.
What do we think of the ex Liverpool lot? Nothing, at best. Fat and lazy leeches, at worst.
De Jong is a better player, definitely a player, definitely sellable.. in that scenario, he's the equivalent of Joey Barton, minus the reputation. Ok, we want to keep you. But we can't pay you more than you'd get elsewhere. You've been offered moves. You apparently like it here. What are we going to do? You'd expect City's board to fight tooth and nail for that pay reduction. Everyone else has made sacrifices, Dunne, the Goat. All through the club. Why not him?
