“My word, my bond” so the saying goes but what happen when those words becomes a tale of the mood light? Just like my dad promised to get me an aerophane why growing up because l demanded it and he nodded. I held so much to it like my life depends on it. But hey, it never happened and l understand that pretty much. However, when such promise is made by a personality that is respected to adults, it’s a different story entirely. Such is the case of Laporta.
Ex Barcelona president Joan Laporta is making the headline in the Spanish club history as he activated a long term promised made to his players some 10 years ago. It will be recalled according the narrative of one the squad player Juan Carlos Heredia who lifted the UEFA Winner's Cup in 1979 with and a beneficiary said that the ex club chief had in 2009 promised all Barcelonian players who helped them conquered Europe in the UEFA Champions league will be placed in a life time salary by the club. What that a fictional promised to get them do the job or a promise made out of fear or incitement? Whatever reason that may be, it was a promise that will cost the club. Laportan knew it.
The question that struck my reasoning was how possible it is to pay all players on a life salary. Well, your guess is as good as knowing that the club has decided to place over 290 players on the salary scheme. Even though we may no get to know the amount involved here but it isn’t going to be a chicken change. Eulogizing players or set of players that made a club is a wonderful feat that most clubs in Europe are yet to adopt. In as much we may say that this is someone's or group of people’s investment, there is no doubt in the fact that football is money spinning in 21st century.
Many ex players just like us are human and most do find adapting to new life very daunting, some of the times some goes broke. This may at the end be a relieve to someone somewhere at the moment. However, to whom much is given, much is expected. The man in the center of the storm is the club legend Lionel Messi for making this promise materialized. Juan Carlos Heredia was full of praising for the Argentine born star player for his 70th minute goal that ensured that Barcelona came out top of that famous victory against Sir Alex Ferguson side Manchester United in 2009. Not only that, Messi had persuaded the club chief to be true to his words. Since then, the club continued their feat in Europe in 2011 and 2015. That’s means all squad players in these three successful seasons and previous have their life salary in their kitty.
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