How much money are Barcelona set to lose if they exit the Champions League?
Barcelona are on the verge of exiting the Champions League at the group stage for the second consecutive season
The worst thing is the impotence of it all. At the end of everything, when the dust has settled and whatever outcome is scribed by journalists all over the world in a multitude of languages; whether it is the greatest comeback in history or another financial landslide surging down the side of the mountain, Barcelona will rue the fact they let it get this far. And they could do nothing about it when the crunch time finally came.
Inter Milan play in the early Champions League kick-off slot on Wednesday night against Viktoria Plzen, and that result will determine if Xavi Hernández will get to continue his European journey or not. It has nothing to do with Barcelona themselves. If Inter win, it’s game over. And if they win, the financial can that has been kicked down the road with Laporta’s levers will be right back next to them.
According to Javi Blanco from Cadena Ser, Barcelona budgeted the season thinking they would at least get to the quarter-finals. This means that they would make over €20 million, were they to get through, a proposition that looks incredibly unlikely, given that not only to Inter have to fail to win, but Barcelona would still have to defeat Bayern Munich.
Blanco’s information states that this potential money does not include any money that the club would have gained from TV rights or ticket sales, meaning the figure of €20 million down the drain is probably much higher. Ultimately, it leaves Barcelona fans with yet another sleepless night ahead.