Uli Hoeness, honorary president of Bayern Munich, bluntly condemned Barcelona for their reckless expenditure. He considers it a warning example for clubs pursuing ambitions at the expense of financial stability.

Uli Hoeness, one of the most influential voices in German football, recently attracted attention during the SPORT1 Doppelpass program. In the discussion, he did not hesitate to use Barcelona as a prime example of how unchecked spending can push a major club into heavy debt.

Hoeness stated: "He (Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director) might want to buy a player, but we know what’s in the box. That is as important as success on the pitch." Then, he sarcastically added: "Take Barcelona as an example. If you keep buying, buying, buying... suddenly you owe 1.2 billion Euros. That’s it, goodbye."

This is not the first time Hoeness has emphasized that financial stability is as crucial as on-field achievements. For him, a club living within its means is a non-negotiable principle. Barcelona stands as the opposite example, having spent lavishly for many years, resulting in mounting debts and struggling to survive.

In recent years, Barca has repeatedly had to sell assets and players to balance income and expenses. The club was also forced to issue bonds to restructure loans, fund the Espai Barça project, and maintain daily operations. Relying on such "financial levers" has made Barcelona a focal point of criticism, seen as a symbol of unsustainable financial management.

This past summer, Barca remained active in the transfer market. They brought in Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, along with promising youngster Roony Bardghji from FC Copenhagen. However, registering both players was far from easy. The club had to wait until the deadline and even offload some players to free up wage space to meet La Liga’s strict requirements. This clearly illustrates how the club’s sporting ambitions are constrained by financial pressures.

From Bayern’s perspective, Hoeness believes sustainable success only comes when a club balances ambition with financial capacity. "If you don’t keep this balance, you’ll get stuck in massive debts that harm both the team and management," he stressed.

Currently, Barcelona has finalized its squad for the new season, allowing coach Hansi Flick to focus fully on the sporting side. Nevertheless, Hoeness’s warning remains relevant. The lesson is clear: no matter how historic or star-studded a club is, it can quickly collapse if it neglects financial governance.

Barcelona is a vivid example that uncontrolled spending decisions can overshadow on-field success. With Hoeness’s reminder, other clubs will surely think twice before entering hundred-million-Euro deals.