BarcelonaEspanyol is facing a paradigm shift in which it has to redefine which club model it aspires to be. The controversial Francisco Joaquín Pérez Rufete, parakeet sports director who ends his contract on June 30, may end up being the big beneficiary of the divorce between Chen Yansheng and José María Durán. The difference in criteria regarding the management between the owner and the former CEO existed for weeks, but the final trigger was the decision of the Chinese businessman not to sell the shareholding that controls Rastar Group to a fund American investor.
A firm offer arrived and negotiations reached a fairly advanced stage. Investors hoped to be able to trade, but ran into Yansheng’s inflexible stance, which did not accept any rebates. As ARA has learned, despite ignoring the interest of these Americans, Chen continues to keep on the table several proposals from other major investors interested in buying the club. “He is a pragmatic businessman, if they give him what he wants, he will leave,” a person who has treated him in recent years told the media. The interests that remain today, however, will not last forever: Yansheng will have to decide in the coming months what to do with the club. For now, he chooses to get more involved.
The scenario of a hypothetical sale was the last way that would have allowed Durán to continue at Espanyol. Once the offer was rejected, there was no alternative but to negotiate an agreement between the two parties. Until now, the CEO saw his future conditioned when he presented the owner in white-and-blue with a detailed plan with all the changes of entrances and exits that had to be made to the first team – about thirty – and also to the sports management next summer. A window considered crucial from the noble offices of the club, due to the economic and sporting situation that the entity is currently experiencing. All parties agree that now is a key time to make a qualitative leap when profound changes are needed. Durán considered that it was time to do without Rufete and opt for a more experienced sports director profile in matters such asscouting and the sale of players. As ARA explained, the club had polled Ramon Planes, who was Durán’s favorite option, but not the only one. Yansheng, however, turned down that roadmap, and an insurmountable schism ensued between the two sides.
The relationship between Durán and the Chinese president has been strained over the past two years. The CEO hired the owner to allocate all possible resources to the staff. Recently, it was even considered to develop a new capital increase. Yansheng was not used to a figure demanding as much from Barcelona as Durán did. His first victory was the 42 million that Espanyol invested in a record winter market, that of 2020. That investment did not serve to prevent the decline in Segona, but to show a change in the trend in terms of signings: Espanyol stopped thinking about returning debt and focused its efforts on strengthening the sports project. Now that the permanence was consolidated, it was time to take the next step.
The management of the descent strengthens Rufete
There were also differences between those in charge of economic and sports management. “When Rufete negotiated his renewal, he demanded more financial power from Chen to complete operations after contacting agents and going to see players on the spot,” said a former Espanyol employee. Durán would have stopped some operations that Rufete had advanced, which would have generated tensions within the club. The fact that the economic and sports areas were not aligned led to a loss of absolute confidence in Yansheng towards Durán, because months before Rufete had earned the credit of the Chinese businessman.
“Chen changed his perception of Alicante when the current sporting director took a step forward to position himself as coach in the final stretch of the 2019-20 League, following Abelardo’s dismissal.” Since then, Chen has had full confidence in Rufete, and with that gesture he won. ” Espanyol: “Rufete has been in office for four years and has built trust and harmony between the presidency and the sports management. They are two people who understand each other. ” The future of Alicante, who until a few weeks ago was more outside the club than inside, has taken a radical turn with the departure of a Durán whom Chen never quite trusted. He is the winner of this week’s institutional storm.
