Is that a thumb or a middle finger?
Milan applied a set-in negotiating strategy. They brought all the staff they needed to make sure they give no space of time for Barca management to reconsider. All decisions were taken at the heat of the moment. That’s predictable, when Barcelona brings all their staff to the negotiation’s table as well. That’s a sign that you are desperate. That’s a sign that you have no way back. That’s a sign that you don’t want to take any time thinking about the whole situation. You made the decision and you consider negotiations as logistics. That’s a “take him please!” And a veteran football director like Galliani will easily ride your back when you bow that low.
But there is a catastrophic mess that happened. A damaging action for the club’s image. Not only on the financial level, but also on the moral level where the club showed lack of commitment toward a player they crawled to get. They were not even interested in saving his face, leading to more predicted outburst and more pathetic episodes to this drama that is yet to reach the closing. Salaries, prestige, and branding are important factors that attract employees to a company. But the most important factor is job security. Ibra’s story with Barcelona will not inspire lot of confidence for any player the club may try to sign later.
"Thank you!Thank you! holly-spirit! I am now a believer!"
When an organization gets in big troubles, it’s Hippocratic to start by blaming the gates' keeper. The receptionist. The human resources manager or the guy who waters the grass in the parking. The blame has to be on the decision maker. The one who is supposed to make sure the gates keeper does his work properly. The receptionist is always well-dressed in proper cloth and charming smile. The human resources being up to the task. The decision maker need to notice the grass is not as green as it should be and make sure to put things in place before the grass turn to ashes. That’s why the head of any organization is given more authority than the rest. Because they should know better. They should be the ones who weigh the situations from all perspectives rather than reacting on it from a marketing perspective, or accounting perspective and so on. The decision maker with more authorities means vital responsibilities. Those high level managers are highly authorized so they lead, not to be led.
Looking back to Barcelona’s case of Ibrahimovic, There is the first conclusion that says it’s Sandro Rosell who was pushing for this transfer since day one and he setup the theater for the play to rock on. If so, then case closed. But what if it was Pep’s or Ibra’s fault for the football divorce between the club and the player?
If the board of directors were aware of this problem since they inherited Laporta’s reign, then why waiting till the last moment of the transfer window? Even after Ibra’s return from holidays he had a meeting with Pep and afterward he made it clear that he is staying. He is at Barcelona to win the champion’s league and he will try to do so next season. “If Villa will help winning the title, then it’s all good”. He played in all the games of the preseason. Hours before Milan’s offer Barcelona’s PR director was saying that Ibra is not transferable, though he can’t say 100 % a player will stay even if that was Xavi or Messi…or Ibra. Hm…who is next?
One month ago, Barcelona could have generated more money from Ibra’s transfer. No doubt about this one. Based on the charity deal they just made with Milan, they may end up collecting half the amount of money Man city paid to get Balotelli. Will Man city pay over 25 Million to get Ibra? You will find people who believe City wouldn’t hesitate to pay him that as a salary. Will Ibra move to Man city? Some may doubt. I think if he –or his agent- are smart they would have picked Man city over Milan in a heartbeat. Nothing against Milan but going back to Italy –to the same city he left searching for glory- is not just a step back, but a return with his tail between his legs. Manchester City is not in the Champion’s league but isn’t it more prestigious to lead them next season to the Champion’s league than playing for a team that is already there? Some may even argue that Man city will have better chance to win the Champion’s league in the future than Milan. Stretch the imagination a bit and think about winning the English league after dominating the Netherlands’, Italian, and winning the Spanish. There was definitely a way to promote the idea for Ibra.
Still, now that we know the numbers, who said Manchester city would have been the only choice? The transfer ended up too cheap that even Xerez would have engineered an offer. Chelsea had lot of players they could have used in the offer to get the player. Even Manchester united with all their financial complications. It was even a better deal to send Ibra with cash over his head to tempt Liverpool for a swap deal that bring Torres back to the liga. Bayern would have thought about making an attempt. And the list is long. Most importantly, the club would have had enough time to sign a replacement and the replacement would have had enough time to adapt before the season starts.
But what if Pep was in a coma and only realized the Ibra-flammation few days ago. The board should have been aware that it is too late. Or at least “may be it is too late”. The first two rules to enter a negotiation are 1) to know exactly how far you are willing to compromise.2) to plan an exit if the negotiation proved unsatisfying. The board should have told the coach that they will try to resolve the situation but he needs to expect the player to stay one more season if no good bargain was possible. He takes as a coach the responsibility of late judgment, not the club. When the board set the mentioned guidelines they position themselves better on the negotiation table. The first thing needed was to tell Milan –before they travel to Barcelona- that the loan idea is laughable. Hell even Liverpool had the balls to completely ignore an offer from Inter for Mascherano. To be clear, when I say “even Liverpool” I am pointing at their financial problems. You can’t respond “just come and we will see” no matter what the initial offer is. The initial offer will be the starting point that you can only expect –and work- to improve, not to change radically. When you keep in mind that the negotiation may go either way –and inform your coach about it- then you will feel it’s a must not to go in public till you get a solid offer that you are willing to negotiate. What happened was the opposite. The coach was the most conservative while the board leader was riding the high horse of slaughtering the Swedish vampire anyway possible.
What was the worst that may happen? Ibra stays? Regardless of his (lack of) quality, Barcelona could have received an equivalent amount of money if they sell him next summer-or even during the winter transfer market. Remember, it’s less that 20 million receivable during 3 years. Fifteen millions in hand is a better bargain next summer.
"Hooray!! I'm in the center!"
After the pathetic show of dragging Barcelona naked across the streets of financial reports, this was the next “big” Rosell-ic thing to happen in less than two months. I am not sure how saying that the club is collapsing financially will help your case while negotiating sponsorship deals, or any kind of agreements that may inject money in the club’s veins. But that’s another story. If he will show consistency that meets his performance so far, free your imagination and expect the worse.
I was an admirer of Sandro when he was in Laporta’s board. Ironically, I was closer to his point of view (or as the media presented the case back then). But since he started to do thing on his own away from Laporta’s farm things started to turn ugly. Being someone who opposed his campaign to inherit Laporta, I am under an obligation to give him the benefit of doubt and spread hope that he will be great president and that he just need time. But he needs to start giving me some good reasons to do so.
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