Audit Reveals Barcelona Lost 77.1 Million Euro In 2009-10

Barcelona was expected to experience a transition this summer as the club’s presidency shifted from Joan LaPorta to Sandro Rosell, but few anticipated the new president’s first month to be dominated by revelations of the Catalan club economic’s troubles.

In early June, it was revealed that Barcelona was unable to meet their June wage bill, forcing the club to take out a €155 million loan. Today comes news that the club lost €77.1 million last season, a figure uncovered by an audit commissioned by the club’s new president.

Spanish champions Barcelona had been mired in a financial crisis weeks ago, unable to pay player wages in June. The club has since been stabilized, securing a five-year, €155 million loan deal on Wednesday, which will allow their annual budget of €50 million for transfers to be put into the market.

That’s the situation Barcelona has reported on their web site, one week after new club president Sandro Rosell, who took over the position for Joan Laporta on July 1, announced on the club web site that his regime had found sufficient debt within the club to necessitate the loan.