Leganes’ sporting director called out Barcelona after their unethical move on Martin Braithwaite last season.
It was February 2020 and Barcelona had just taken a serious hit after Ousmane Dembele suffered a serious injury that would have him sidelined for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, thanks to a La Liga rule which allows clubs to sign players outside of the transfer window for injury cover, Barcelona were allowed to sign Martin Braithwaite from Leganes.
However, Los Pepineros weren’t granted permission to complete a signing themselves after losing their star striker to the Catalan club. Already in a battle to escape the relegation zone, Leganes ended up losing their top-tier spot. Therefore, they are now playing in Spanish’s second division.
According to the club’s sporting director Txema Indias, Barcelona’s unethical decision to snatch the Danish striker was the final straw against Leganes’ aspirations to remain in La Liga.
“At that time as a club we were very, very polite,” Indias told AS. It may sound like an excuse, but that decision by FC Barcelona pushed Leganés over the precipice. On a moral and ethical level, everything could have been done better or have looked elsewhere, and even more so when 15 days before they had an open market.”
The sporting director finds Barcelona’s current situation with Messi to be amusing.
Moreover, Indias suggested that the Blaugrana were acting as hypocrites as they have recently complained of PSG’s moves towards Messi. The French club has made it very clear that they wish to sign the Argentinian legend on a free transfer.
“It makes you laugh. When it happens to others, nothing happens, but when it happens to you, the importance is greater. I read all that destabilizing stuff and it makes me laugh.
“They not only destabilized us, but also helped us down to the second tier. And it is of little use for me to complain, change the rule or say that they hurt us. They played with the bread and butter of many families.”
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