Barcelona’s old tweet about producing talent and Real Madrid buying them looks hilariously absurd now that the Catalans have resorted to big money buys like their El Classico Rivals
Barcelona and Real Madrid share a storied rivalry. The two sides of the EL Classico have bolstered their arsenals using vastly different methods. So much so that it even prompted Barcelona to comment on it back in 2009.
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The Blaugrana wrote on their twitter handle:
“Barca produces talent, Real buys them”
El Barça fabrica cracks, el Madrid els compra. Interessant comparativa: http://is.gd/14pkz
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) June 17, 2009
Barcelona relied on their academy, La Masia, to provide them with a healthy supply of players including the greatest to ever don their jersey, Lionel Messi. Real Madrid on the other hand, have always relied on their Galacticos; their big money signings. Los Blancos have bought in the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo to lead them to glory.
Piques praises La Masia
Back in 2013, in an interview with Marca, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said:
“Barcelona have always been behind Real Madrid, but in the last 10 or 15 years we have turned the situation around.”
“We are talking about a Real Madrid that has dominated football for 90 years and that has always been ahead of us.”
“We have brought through a great crop of youngsters at the club and this has helped us to compete. “
“Real Madrid go one year without winning a title and they spend €160 million on three players: [Asier] Illarramendi, Isco and [Gareth] Bale. Barcelona can sign Neymar for €60 or €70 million but not three players. We are not a poor club, but we are competing with the richest club of all.”
Barca, Real: same difference
Fast forward to 2019 and there is hardly any difference in the way both these clubs stock their arsenal anymore. Madrid have continued to spend large on recruitments. However, the Catalans, once proud of producing talent, has overtaken the Madrid side in terms of money spent to bring in players.
Barcelona become the first club to spend over €1 billion in the last five years. pic.twitter.com/jtijZyWmGE
— BlameFootball (@blamefootball) July 13, 2019
Barcelona have spent a mammoth €1.08 billion on transfers in the last 5 years! This is more than what PSG and Manchester City, clubs notorious for their bottomless pit of money, have spent on their acquisitions. With Barcelona reportedly in the hunt for Neymar from PSG, one can expect this numbers to get even higher.
The surge in expenditure has seen Barcelona dominate their domestic league ruthlessly. However, they are yet to convert domestic domination to European success. The opposite is true for their rivals, who have continued to remain second best to Barcelona in the league. Yet, barring a barren run last year, have continually looked threatening in the European Championships. They even won 3 champions league on the trot just one year removed.
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