I always wondered. How hard is it to convince players to play in the club that played best football for the last 30 years.
To play with Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Messi... with numerous others from Spanish golden generation etc.
To live in a nice city on the sea, warm weather, to play in the biggest stadium.
All that and we consistently ended up overpaying and giving more than generous salaries.
Lack of long term planning is evident. Presidents change and each board has their agenda and favours to do so there is that. But still goes a long way from explaining the ineptitude and lax attitude .
Sometimes we are bailed out by superb managers or hitting jackpots with Masia.
Shame every aspect of the club was not and is not ran professionally as Masia. Or having a character of Cruyff, Pep, Lucho or Flick.