Join For The Isle's Martin Bauman and special guest Simon Kuper (Soccernomics, Financial Times) as the two discuss the rise of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi’s emotional departure, the current financial state of European club football, and Kuper’s latest book, The Barcelona Complex.
Rundown:
1:17: The inspiration behind The Barcelona Complex
3:24: “Més que un club” and Catalanisme
7:41: “The most important man in the history of football”
10:33: Lionel Messi and player empowerment
13:53: What was gained and lost from FC Barcelona’s rise to the top?
16:15: Making sense of Messi’s departure to PSG
19:14: Big money and the state of European club football
23:07: Is the Canadian men’s national team poised to make the leap on the global stage?
Podcast: The Barcelona Complex with Simon Kuper