Barca Guilty of Self-sabotage

There is an African proverb that states that goes like this “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you” and this rings true for the current situation at Barcelona. For a number of years the Catalans have been plodding from one plunder to the next, and in 2017 the Barca board’s dirty linens have been on display for the whole world to see

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This following the world record € 222 million Neymar transfer has seemingly brought Barcelona's house of cards falling down, and it is that very transfer that has left a bad taste in the mouths of the board and sore spot for the Catatlans.

On Tuesday Barcelona made a statement that they were suing Neymar for a breach of contract on the grounds that the Brazilian failed to uphold his contractual obligation after he signed an extension in 2016 only to leave this year.

In turn Neymar is reportedly suing Barca after he wasn’t paid the € 26 million loyalty bonus due to him last year. It is no coincidence that Barcelona's suit coincides with Neymar making a few chose statements about the club's board.

According to ESPN the Brazilian had this to say: "I spent four years there and was very happy. I began happy, spent four years happy and left happy. But not with them. For me, they [current Barcelona board] shouldn't be in charge of Barca. Barca deserve much better, and everyone knows this."

Clearly that rubbed the Barca board up the wrong way and this response is about Barcelona putting Neymar on notice that he's made it personal with his those words.

Undoubtedly, the move was meant to hurt Neymar, but in the end Barca may have just shot themselves in the foot. Didn’t they realise their actions would render the club unattractive for prospective signings? Was consideration given as to what message this action sent to the players still at the club?

Speaking of players still at the club, Lionel Messi is reportedly still yet to sign a new contract to keep him at the Nou Camp, despite having agreed terms in July. So wouldn't Barca’s suit against Neymar leave him to reconsider his future? Why wasn’t it handled earlier? Or had they not realised that Messi could walk on a free next year if he feels he might be better off elsewhere?

Rumours of unhappiness have also been doing the rounds at club along with a sense of uncertainty as the board’s poor decision are finally being felt on the field after Barca were swept by Real in a 5-1 aggregate loss in the Spanish Super Cup. With the performances on the field suffering, the team's inability to make any credible signings and the current board's ineptitude and incompetence on full display how long will it take other players to follow in Neymar’s footsteps?