Barcelona's economic vice president, Eduard Romeu, has said that the club's financial problems can be traced back to the arrival of Neymar in 2013.

Romeu said that Neymar's salary was so high that it set a precedent for future signings and that the club's spending spiraled out of control as a result.

"Neymar's arrival was the start of the problem," Romeu said. "Everything afterward was inflated due to making an exorbitant payment for a player who had just arrived."

Barcelona's financial problems were exacerbated by the club's decision to sell Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. The French club paid his release clause of 222 million euros, which was a world record at the time.

"The madness starts when he leaves, we lost the plot," Romeu said.

Barcelona also made two other expensive signings in the wake of Neymar's departure: Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé. However, neither player has lived up to expectations, nor their combined transfer fees of over 300 million euros have added to the club's financial woes.

Romeu said that he hopes Barcelona will return to being "in the black" starting next season. However, the club still has a long way to go to dig itself out of its financial hole.

Lamine Yamal: The Next Messi?

Lamine Yamal is a 15-year-old forward who is making waves at Barcelona's La Masia academy. He has been compared to Lionel Messi, and former Barcelona academy coach Aureli Altimira believes that he is the closest thing to Messi that the academy has ever produced.

Yamal made his La Liga debut last season at the age of 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days, becoming the youngest ever debutant in the competition. He has also played for Barcelona's U19 team, scoring seven goals in 20 league appearances.

Yamal is a gifted goalscorer with a natural ability to find the back of the net. He is also a good dribbler and passer, and he has the potential to be a complete forward.

However, Altimira has warned that Yamal's development needs to be carefully managed. "He does things that 19-year-olds don't do," Altimira said. "I think that controlling his environment will be an important factor in his development."

Yamal is still very young, but he has the potential to be one of the best players in the world. If he is managed correctly, he could go on to achieve great things.

Here are some of Lamine Yamal's strengths:

• Natural goalscorer
• Good dribbler
• Good passer
• Young and hungry

Here are some of the challenges that Lamine Yamal will face:

• Managing his expectations
• Staying fit and healthy
• Avoiding injuries
• Coping with the pressure of playing at the highest level

Overall, Lamine Yamal is a very talented young player with a lot of potential. If he is managed correctly, he could go on to achieve great things.

Ilkay Gundogan to Leave Manchester City for Barcelona

 Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is set to leave the club after six years, with the German midfielder agreeing to a free transfer to Barcelona.

Gundogan, 32, has been a key player for City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, winning five Premier League titles, a Champions League, two FA Cups, and four League Cups. He was also named club captain last season following the departure of Fernandinho.

Despite City's best efforts to keep Gundogan, the midfielder has opted to move to Barcelona in search of a new challenge. He is reportedly set to sign a three-year contract with the Catalan club.

Gundogan's departure is a blow to City, but the club has already moved to replace him by signing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.

Gundogan's legacy at City is secure. He is one of the most successful midfielders in the club's history, and his contribution to their recent success has been immense. He will be fondly remembered by City fans for his intelligence, creativity, and work ethic.

Gundogan's move to Barcelona is a sign of the club's ambition. They are looking to rebuild their squad after a disappointing season, and Gundogan is a significant signing for them. He will add experience, quality, and leadership to their midfield.

It will be interesting to see how Gundogan performs in Barcelona. He is a player who has thrived in a possession-based system, and Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world at playing that way. If he can adapt to their style of play, he could be a major success at the Nou Camp.

Gundogan's departure marks the end of an era at City. He has been a key player for the club for many years, and he will be missed. However, his move to Barcelona is a sign of the club's ambition, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in Spain.

Ilkay Gundogan's future undecided

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has admitted he is yet to make a decision on his future, with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund both linked with the German international.

Gundogan, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been in impressive form for City this term, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in all competitions.

The 32-year-old has been linked with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks, with the Catalan giants reportedly keen to add him to their midfield ranks.

However, Gundogan has also been linked with a return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, who are also looking to strengthen their midfield options.

Speaking to reporters on international duty with Germany, Gundogan said: "No decision has been made yet. I am in the process of deciding my future."

He added: "There was contact with Borussia Dortmund, but it was never close as a return to the Bundesliga is not in my plans."

Gundogan is expected to make a decision on his future in the coming weeks, with Barcelona and Dortmund both hoping to secure his signature.

It is thought that the midfielder is keen to remain in the Premier League, but he is also open to a move to Spain.

Barcelona are currently in the midst of a rebuild, and they are looking to add some experience to their midfield ranks.

Dortmund are also looking to strengthen their midfield, and they are confident that they can convince Gundogan to return to the club where he made his name.

The next few weeks will be crucial in determining Gundogan's future, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up playing next season.