Xavier Sala i Martín: A Pivotal Voice in Spanish Football Discourse

Xavier Sala i Martín, a distinguished economist born in Cabrera de Mar in 1962, expresses his opinions with a refreshing straightforwardness, often deviating from conventional analysis. A former executive at FC Barcelona under Joan Laporta, he continues to wield considerable influence within the club, particularly amid the ongoing dispute involving Lamine Yamal and the Spanish Football Federation.

Known affectionately as ‘El Chaquetas’ for his colorful jacket choices, Sala i Martín has directed his commentary towards Real Madrid. He questioned the financial viability of Florentino Pérez’s strategy to invest 300 million euros in player acquisitions, suggesting it would necessitate selling 30 million jerseys—an unrealistic expectation.

His observations regarding the rivalry between Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona and José Mourinho’s Madrid have also been cutting: “Cristiano’s Madrid resembles school bullies, targeting the weak while cowering before the strong,” he noted on Twitter.

A recognized supporter of Catalonian independence, Sala i Martín did not hold back during the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors held at the Santiago Bernabéu, drawing parallels to the political climate in Catalonia.

The spotlight on Vinicius Jr. provided Sala i Martín with further material for critique. He expressed frustration at the perceived leniency towards the Brazilian player, questioning why Vinicius had not received cards for his conduct on the field. His remarks escalated as he labeled Vinicius a “cretin, arrogant, provocative, and rude.”

His disdain for the Spanish national team surfaced in a comment on Iñigo Martínez, where he fused various controversies: “One should not be on the national team for waving a flag, yet distributing child pornography merits a statue in Spain. This reflects the absurdity of opinions surrounding Real Madrid.”

He also poked fun at Luís Figo, a contentious figure for Barcelona supporters, questioning the logic behind Messi’s 66 million euro loyalty bonus prior to Messi’s departure from the club.

Moreover, Sala i Martín weighed in on the tense exchange between Susana Guasch and Luis Enrique during a recent Champions League final, stating, “Susana, let it go. Luis Enrique has made you a part of one of the greatest embarrassments in history, stemming from nepotism rather than merit.”

He further criticized Javier Tebas, the La Liga president, calling him a “barroom tough guy” for his insulting comments directed at club presidents on Twitter.

While Guardiola, Laporta, and Luis Enrique remain untouchable in Sala i Martín’s views, he does not extend the same courtesy to Luis de la Fuente and the Spanish national team.