Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

BARCELONA

Neymar affected by signing scandal: Barça

Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino believes star striker Neymar's inability to live up to high expectations in his first season with the club could be related to the intense scrutiny of his transfer from Santos.

Published: 15 March 2014 17:05 CET

Neymar affected by signing scandal: Barça

File photo: AFP

Sandro Rosell resigned as the club's president in January as he faces legal action for misappropriation of funds, whilst Barca were also charged with tax fraud over the deal.

The Brazilian was also sidelined by an ankle injury for a month at the start of the year and Martino also thinks that has also played a part in the 22-year-old's return of just one goal in 2014.

"Returning after a month out injured it is always difficult to get back into rhythm and then the problems with his signing appeared," he said at a press conference on Saturday.

"If I had to choose one reason I would focus in the non-sporting issues."

Neymar was only one of a number of Barca players who were well below par as the Catalans lost 1-0 to Valladolid last weekend.

That defeat left them four points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of the table and Martino admitted they must beat Osasuna at home on Sunday to remain in the title fight before travelling to face Real next weekend.

"Osasuna is a final for us to be able to get to the Madrid game with a chance.

"They have caused problems to everyone, especially against the top three at home. We expect a difficult game and we will have to work hard."

Gerard Pique has been left out of Martino's 18-man squad due to a slight ankle injury, but the Argentine insisted it is just a minor problem and the Spanish international should be fit for next weekend.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

Why has the expansion of Barcelona airport prompted mass protests?

People march during a demonstration against the expansion of the Barcelona-El Prat airport. Photo: Pau BARRENA / AFP

Several ecological and agricultural organisations, have demanded that the expansion be stopped due to the fact nearby wetlands and farms would have to be destroyed.

The demonstration took place on Calle Tarragona in the Catalan capital between Plaça d’Espanya and Plaça dels Països Catalans.

The protests still took place, even though last week, Spain suspended the €1.7 billion airport expansion project, citing differences with the Catalan government, after president Pere Aragonès said he wanted to avoid destroying La Ricarda lagoon, a natural reserve next to the airport.

Environmentalists decided not to call off the march, in case plans for the airport expansion still went ahead.

READ ALSO: Six things you need to know about Barcelona airport’s €1.7 billion planned expansion

Political representatives from ERC, En Comú Podem and the CUP also attended, as well as the leader of Más País, Íñigo Errejón; the Deputy Mayor for Ecology of the Barcelona City Council, Janet Sanz, and the Mayor of El Prat de Llobregat, Lluís Mijoler.

People from neighbourhoods across the city marched towards Calle Tarragona and could be seen holding placards that read “Nature yes, airport no and shouting slogans such as “More courgettes and fewer planes” and “Fighting for the climate, health, and life”.

One of the largest groups of people were those from El Prat de Llobregat, the municipality which is home to the airport, who were led by tractors.

People march during a demonstration against the expansion of Barcelona-El Prat airport. Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP

In addition to protesting against the expansion of the El Prat airport, people were also demonstrating against the Winter Olympic Games in the Pyrenees and extensions to airports in Mallorca and Madrid.

A representative of Zeroport, Sara Mingorría said “We are here to defend not only La Ricarda, but the entire Delta”.

The philosopher Marina Garcés also argued that the expansion of the airport would mean “more borders, more mass tourism, more control and more precarious jobs.”

The leader of the commons in the Catalan parliament, Jéssica Albiach, who also attended the protest, asked the PSOE for “coherence”: “You cannot be passing a law against climate change and, at the same time, defend the interests of Aena [the airport operations company]”, she said.

She also urged the leader of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, to “definitely say no”.

If the airport expansion in Barcelona goes ahead, environmentalists say that CO2 emissions would rise by a minimum of 33 percent. These levels would surpass the limits set by the Catalan government’s climate targets.

Url copied to clipboard!