Van der Vaart: “The Barça board are a mafia and have to be punished”
Former player Rafael Van der Vaart was speaking ahead of Barcelona-Rayo and criticized president Joan Laporta and stated that “the name of Barça has been damaged”.
The now infamous economic ‘levers’ as used by FC Barcelona have raised eyebrows around the football world with the club selling off key assets in order to facilitate signing and registering new players.
Former Spurs and Real Madrid player Rafael van der Vaart expressed his surprise on Dutch TV with the Catalan club’s summer dealings as he spoke ahead of Saturday’s Camp Nou season opener as Barcelona faced Rayo Vallecano.
“How the hell can you buy players when you don’t have money? I find it a shame”, started Van der Vaart alluding to the acquisitions at Camp Nou of Raphinha, Jules Koundé, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessié and Andreas Christensen. These are all key players that Laporta has secured so far this summer. This man thinks he is the king but I think he’s an idiot”.
Van der Vaart was also angered by the Catalan club’s treatment of Frenkie de Jong. “You can’t treat people like that,” he said. “Does Frenkie earn too much? First you sign a contract and then you fulfill it or you leave on good terms, but not like this. This board is mafia and they have to be punished”.
Van der Vaart concluded stating: “Barça’s name on the map has become damaged. It was always a great club and everyone wants to play there but as of now we judge it differently and I find it a disgrace”