Spanish sports are once again marked by a controversy that awakens painful memories among Barça fans. Luis Figo's name still echoes when people talk about sports betrayals, and this case brings it to mind. At Palau blaugrana, people fear experiencing an episode that wounds both the sporting and emotional sides.
This is not about a footballer, but about a key figure in another Barça section. His contract situation has opened the door to an outcome that Laporta considers unacceptable for the institution. In the offices, they already accept it: in a year, he will wear the eternal rival's jersey.
The player has decided to fulfill his contract until the end, which greatly complicates things for Barça. The board would have preferred to find him an immediate exit and gain some financial return with a transfer this summer. However, the main character remains firm and doesn't intend to change his initial plan.
The key to the white operation
Meanwhile, Real Madrid watches calmly and prepares the ground for what seems inevitable. Coach Sergio Scariolo, current national team manager, knows the player perfectly well and has for years. It will be precisely him who, soon, will also become the new coach of the white club.
Scariolo has pulled the strings quietly to ensure the arrival of his trusted man. He believes that with the right environment and a different project, the player can recover his best form. In the capital, they believe he will be a strategic reinforcement to restore power in major competitions.
Barça, meanwhile, watches this offensive helplessly while seeing its investment fade away with no return. The situation creates nervousness because the section is going through a complicated financial context, with an urgent need for budget adjustments. Losing him without bringing in anything is a hard blow for the immediate plans.
Laporta blasts the player
President Joan Laporta has not hidden his outrage in the club's internal meetings. He believes the player has disrespected the club that made him one of the highest paid. His harshest words have defined him as a "traitor," inevitably recalling that episode with Figo.
The frustration grows because the bet on him was risky and very costly from the start. He arrived as a leader expected to make a difference and to place Barça among the continent's giants. However, his performance was always below what was desired, leaving doubts among the coaching staff and the board.
Neither in the EuroLeague nor in the ACB League did he manage to show the influence that was attributed to the signing. Nor inside the locker room did he manage to become an undisputed reference, despite his proven international experience. As the months went by, his role was reduced and his impact ended up being minimal.
The memory of Figo returns to the scene
In the Barça environment, the comparison with the Figo case has arisen almost automatically among fans. Losing a star and seeing him wear the white jersey is a blow that's too hard to take. In addition, in this case, the aggravating factor is clear: Barça will not receive a single euro.
In Madrid, on the other hand, the operation is seen as both a symbolic and sporting triumph for the club. Recovering a youth player who was once trained at Valdebebas is a source of extra pride. The white project awaits him with open arms, convinced that his performance will shine again.
Scariolo himself has conveyed absolute trust to his circle that he will be able to bring out his best version quickly. He is convinced that he is an ideal piece to build a winning team in Europe. The player, meanwhile, remains silent and assures that he is focused solely on finishing his current contract well.
The outcome seems inevitable
Everything points to him completing his last year in Barcelona before returning to the Spanish capital. There, an ambitious project and a coach who offers him absolute trust and immediate prominence await him. At the Barça club, on the other hand, they feel they have lost both a sporting reference and a major investment.
The script seems written and will hardly change unless there is an unexpected twist in the coming weeks. Barça fans are beginning to resign themselves to a bitter ending that many had seen coming for months. Real Madrid is already rubbing its hands together with the arrival of a signing that generates maximum excitement.
Finally, the open secret that runs through the halls of Palau blaugrana is confirmed: Willy Hernangómez will be a white player. The Spanish center, currently at Barça, has decided to return home for free and reunite with Scariolo. At the blue and garnet club, the word "betrayal" rings out loudly again, just like in that summer of 2000.