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Barcelona have been warned they risk emulating Man United and AC Milan
The Catalan giants saw their defence of the LaLiga title come to an end
On-field problems and behind the scenes disharmony blight the club
Presidential hopeful Victor Font says the club could face a bleak future

Published: 08:04 EDT, 17 July 2020 | Updated: 08:29 EDT, 17 July 2020

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Barcelona have been warned that they risk emulating the likes of Manchester United and AC Milan in being unable to compete for major honours.

The Catalan giants fell to an abysmal 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna on Thursday night, handing arch rivals Real Madrid their first league title since 2017, in what was a dismal defence of their domestic crown.

Their most recent setback underlines the dire state of affairs at the club, with disarray and disunity on the pitch matched by ongoings behind the scenes, with the players and the board at loggerheads.

Barcelona have been warned that they could become the new Manchester United or AC Milan

The Catalan club lost out on the LaLiga title as Real Madrid stormed to triumph on Thursday

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has a terse relationship with an array of stars, including Lionel Messi, and it is believed that club icon Xavi does not wish to take over as coach while the unpopular chief is still at the helm.

Bartomeu's tenure comes to an end in 2021, where there will be new presidential elections, and one candidate has warned that the club could be on the cusp of falling on hard times for years to come.

Victor Font is set to challenge Bartomeu for the presidency, and drew comparisons to Premier League club Manchester United as well as five-time Champions League winners AC Milan in regards to Barcelona's current predicament.

Font, who has been working on his bid to oust Bartmomeu since 2013, says the club face a host of obstacles in the near future, in replacing a key generation of players, renovating the Nou Camp and dealing with the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Presidential hopeful Victor Font says the club could face a bleak, trophyless future

Font hopes to challenge Josep Bartomeu for the presidency in 2021, with the club in disarray

'Competition over the last decade has become more and more professional,' he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast.

'You see in the Premier League with clubs well managed, and even states owning clubs to put in a lot of money at a time where the finance of the club and economic model is stretched to the limit.

'Unless we do what we are trying, Barca has the risk of becoming a new AC Milan or a Manchester United.'

AC Milan have fallen on hard times, by their standards, and have not looked like challenging domestically nor in Europe since they win Serie A in 2010-11.

Meanwhile, United have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2012-13.