Uli Hoeness takes a swipe at Barcelona’s financial mismanagement | OneFootball

Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, did not hold back when discussing football finances during a recent appearance on the German talk show Doppelpass on Sport1 (h/t AS).

Known for his outspoken opinions, Hoeness took aim at what he sees as financial mismanagement at other clubs, using Barcelona as a cautionary example.

“He (Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director) would have wanted to buy a player, but we know what we have in the box. That is as important as sporting success.

“There is the example of Barcelona. If you shop, shop, buy… suddenly you have 1,200 million debts. Goodbye, very good,” Hoeness said, ironically highlighting the Blaugrana’s economic struggles.

Barcelona’s financial issues have been widely reported over the past few years, and the summer transfer window brought those problems into sharp focus.

Despite signing high-profile players like Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, the club struggled to register them immediately.

Player departures were essential to free up space under La Liga’s strict financial rules, illustrating just how tight Barcelona’s budget remained.

Lessons from Bayern’s perspective

Barcelona somehow managed to register their new signings. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

Hoeness’ comments underline the importance of balancing ambition with economic prudence.

While sporting success is always a priority, he emphasised that financial health cannot be overlooked, as evidenced by Barcelona’s current situation.

Clubs that fail to maintain this balance risk accumulating unsustainable debt, which can have long-term consequences both on and off the pitch.

With the summer transfer window now closed, Barcelona have successfully registered their squad, giving Hansi Flick and his coaching staff the tools to focus on performance.

However, Hoeness’ remarks serve as a reminder that even the most prestigious clubs must exercise caution in the transfer market.

Barcelona’s example, as pointed out by the Bayern president, is one that other clubs can learn from, a lesson in how quickly financial mismanagement can overshadow sporting ambitions.