WASHINGTON: Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann seemed baffled at Barcelona’s ability to buy players despite the precarious financial conditions of the club after the Spanish club confirmed the signing of Bayern star Robert Lewandowski on Tuesday.
Speaking to a pre-match press conference ahead of his team’s pre-season match against DC United, Bayern’s manager claimed that Barcelona was the only club in the world with no money but still managed to sign big names.
“It is the only club in the world that have no money, but then buys all the players they want. I don’t know how they do it. It’s a bit strange, a bit crazy.” he said.
Nagelsman’s frustration over Barcelona came after Polish forward Lewandowski decided to part ways with the German club after eight successful years at Bayern.
The 33-year-old transferred from Bayern to Barcelona for $46.1 million plus an additional $5.12 million, signing a four-year deal with a buyout clause of $512.47 million.
However, the financial crunch forced Barcelona to let go of many of its most valuable assets last year including, the former captain and all-time leading goal scorer in the club’s history, Lionel Messi.
The club’s president, Joan Laporta, disclosed last year that the Spanish giant owed more than $1.5 billion in debt and had a negative net worth of $515 million.
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