As per The Athletic, the Nou Camp is set to undergo redevelopment, which will leave Barcelona without the stadium for a year. The plans come not long after their financial situation was exposed, leaving in question the need to spend further money on an arguably needless redevelopment. It also comes just a few months after Real Madrid’s work on the Bernabeu came to a conclusion. Los Blancos were forced to play at the Alfredo Di Setefano Stadium last season.
With money problems becoming a recurring theme at the Spanish giants, the timing of the redevelopment is certainly questionable. President Joan Laporta told Catalan radio station RAC1 that the project will be paid for via a €1.5 billion loan, which will supposedly be repaid by future revenue generated as a result of the redevelopment. If the funding is secured, the building work is expected to take three-four years, with one season away from the Nou Camp needed.
Barcelona’s temporary home could be the Estadi Johan Cruyff, the stadium next to the famous La Masia academy, which could be expanded from 6,000 seats to 40,000 or even 50,000. Another option could be the Estadi Olimpic Luis Companys, once the stadium of Espanyol and the Barcelona Olympics.
Nou Camp Redevelopment Will Leave Barcelona Away From Stadium for a Year
Could Damage Barcelona
If it doesn’t lead to financial chaos, then the redevelopment of the Nou Camp will work in Barcelona’s favour when it comes to long-term aims. In the short-term, however, it will have a damaging effect. Financially, the club will lose out on money without he tourist attraction of the stadium, whilst, on the pitch, the Catalan club may struggle to look like a big European side.
You could argue that the Nou Camp is the only thing left keeping Barcelona amongst the top clubs because, let’s face it, the likes of Luuk de Jong don’t exactly scream world class. Take the world famous, historic stadium away, and what are the Spanish giants left with?
Before his exit, Lionel Messi was the attraction point; the reason fans travelled from afar. Now, without him, tourists likely turn up to tick the Nou Camp off their stadium bucket list. So, the question is raised: Without the star quality, and without the historic stadium, what is Barcelona’s selling point?
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
