Barça’s Unethical Signing of Arda Turan.

Arda Turan’s signing by Barça is yet another unprofessional and unethical move by Bartomeu of not respecting club rules. His selected Managing Committee exceeded their powers when they signed Arda Turan. The continuous sneaky and blatant disregard of rules has become a pattern with Josep Maria Bartomeu and one only has to fear what lies ahead if he is elected in the upcoming Barça presidential elections.

With Barça capturing the treble for an unprecedented second time, it was time for me to take a break, and enjoy the summer with a move to Florida along with Copa America and Gold Cup action before thinking of the next Barça season. However, with the Barça presidential candidates finally being announced, it was hard not to pay attention again to the on-goings in Barcelona.

Promises are usually made by candidates on who will be signed if they are elected. However, the fact that the club’s Managing Committee was able to sign Arda Turan during elections is preposterous. Only one candidate wanted Arda Turan, after failing miserably in getting Pogba, and suddenly that player was signed by the club under the guise of necessity. That candidate is none other than Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The functions of the Managing Committee are defined under Article 35.4 of the club’s statutes as the following:

“The Managing Committee will perform all governmental, administrative and representative functions that are normally attended to by the Board of Directors. It shall limit its acts to those that are necessary and essential in order to maintain the club’s regular activities and to protect the club’s interests.”

Throughout the years, we have had numerous presidential elections, yet I have never seen a Managing Committee overreach its powers and sign or sell a player during this period. Since when did it become necessary and essential for the club to sign a player when elections are just right around the corner? The club’s regular activities and protecting club’s interests seems pretty basic to me. Make sure that the employees f the club are getting their paychecks and also make sure the bills get paid on time so the power is not turned off at the Camp Nou. Anything else can wait until a new president is elected.

The fact that this signing took place is not a surprise when it was Bartomeu who hand selected the Managing Committee. Sure, the transfer included a return policy that will cost the club a few million euros if the new president refuses to honor this deal which makes it possible to revoke this deal but is it worth the cost? The excuse that Luis Enrique wanted this player does not carry much weight. If that is what he wanted, then wait till a new president is elected before asking for the player to be signed. This deal seemed forced since Arda and Atlético did not appear to impatient in waiting for Barça to make this move, so why make this move so quickly? This is so shady but then again, we have become accustomed to shadiness these past few years under Rosell and now Bartomeu.