The new era of lies with potatoes

While Barça fans are getting excited – and rightly so – about the team's chances, in the offices there are plots worthy of a bad Netflix series. I say bad, because the narrative twists are not subtle: the scriptwriter, Joan Laporta, leaves the clues so clear that it is difficult for the viewer to get lost going to get popcorn in the kitchen. Let's review the story at hand and put ourselves on January 14: it is the day that the president holds the press conference to defend his handling of the case of the registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. Laporta refuses, for confidentiality reasons, to give the names of the two companies from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that are behind the transfers. VIP Seat Operation. He does admit, however, that La Liga sees the payment coming from the Emirates as problematic and, for that reason, the approval does not arrive in time. Spectator, this is important.

The story progresses and a name emerges despite the club's opacity: New Era. Spectator, what does that name sound like to you? "Hey! Wait a minute... it coincides with the top-level company that the club announced would take charge of the 5G connectivity at Camp Nou!" Bingo! The agreement was announced in November, by the hand of Orange. Friend spectator, put down your popcorn because now a new character appears: Ruslan Birladeanu. He is a Moldovan businessman with a strange resume who was involved in a real estate fraud scandal in his country and who has had business dealings with Dani Alves. Birladeanu is in both places: in the operation of the VIP seats and at the head of 5G technology; in the Emirates and in Barcelona. Founded with a capital of 3,000 euros, the Catalan headquarters is a private flat in Sant Andreu with a mailbox like yours. If it had been a caravan it would have been too reminiscent of Barçagate and the tributes to Bartomeu were not necessary: the inheritance and such…

Right now, a recurring character, Javier Tebas, is pretending to be offended before the CSD with his allegations. His ambivalent role confuses you and it is normal. You may ask yourself: "If he was so suspicious of Laporta's movements, why did La Liga end up validating the VIP seats operation on January 3?" There is another doubt that may arise: "What is the purpose of Barça's regulatory compliance department today?" There is more: "Why will the majority of directors and executives who see that all this is jarring, choose to be accomplices?" Spectator, do not be distracted: this bad series will still have more chapters. The member cannot be fooled... or can he? What was it like to eat lies with potatoes?