I don't see how Barca can be in a much better financial situation than Inter, so far as I'm aware Moratti (and Saras Group) can finance the club's spending reasonably well. Similarly I don't think Chelsea are in dire financial straits, Abramovic might not be spending as much as 5 years ago, but I think they are secure with him around.
The main reason why Barcelona is much much safer than those 2 clubs is because barcelona is owned by 175.000 members, while Inter and Chelsea are owned by just 1 person. If Abramovich or Moratti go away, the club enters in bankrupcy instantly. It's always safer to be in the hands of 175.000 people than 1 or 2. Ask to Man Utd fans.
Besides, these clubs are losing money each season and they CAN'T generate more money than what they spend. That's the definition of something that just doesn't work. Barcelona has been generating yearly more money than they spend, and has a lot of real estate assets to deal and negotiate. So the economical position of Barcelona is a lot safer in the long run than Inter or Chelsea.
Also who would Rossell take out a loan of such magnitude ? There are massive inherent risks in taking out loans, especially in the current credit-squeezed enviroment. Even if Barca have the ability to pay the loan back on or ahead of time, the parent bank could have problems and their creditors could summon an earlier payment plan or increase interest rates (if the loan is linked to inflation this may happen anyway). Why would he expose Barca to risks outside of their domain ?
If what you imply (Barca are completely financially secure) is true why would he take the loan out ? He could just say something along the lines of "Laporta overspent, and now we won't finance big transfer signings for a year"
That's a tricky thing, but I'll explain. This loan wasn't necessary at long term nor at mid term. But Rosell, as many presidents did before him, wants to make Laporta legacy seem horrible. Then, finantially it will be very easy for him to improve the finantial results each year of his 6-years presidential term. Besides, the loan will be used to do some non-football related operations (buying some terrains and improving the basketball stadium and some improvements in the Nou Camp area). Rosell simply made things seem worse than they are as a marketing operation.
You would say it sounds very far-fetched, but.... he did the same thing in 2003 when he entered the club with Laporta! Then they asked for a 200 M€ credit to banks and did a lot of operations with the money. 7 years later, LAporta leaved a much bigger club.
Operating with loans is a must in BIG companies. We talk about companies generating an income of more than 450 M per year right now. At this level, companies always operate in debt.
The finantial risk is when the company is in a position that would not be able to return the money at long term. But that's not the case of Barcelona. Surely the banks would deny a credit like this one to a club like Valencia (that's why they have to sell players), but Barcelona and Madrid are so big and move so much money that the banks know they can lend them credit.
And as I said, don't let the yellow press confuse you. This money is NOT to pay wages (as some have written), it will be used in a lot of operations that the club is starting right now. And one of the projects, which implies a total restructure of the Nou Camp area and selling the terrains where the Miniestadi is now (adjacent to Nou camp, a stadium of 15.000 seats), can bring back a LOT of money to the club.
Sure, the situations is not ideal. But as I stated, it's one of the clubs with better economical perspectives of the top 20.
