The Liga club could follow the fallen giants from Italy and England and be unable to compete for major European honours, unless changes are made

Barcelona could become “a new AC Milan or Manchester United” and be unable to compete for major European honours unless serious changes are made at the club, presidential candidate Victor Font has warned.

The Camp Nou club lost their La Liga title to Real Madrid on Thursday, and must now win the Champions League in order to avoid a trophyless season.

Font, who is running against incumbent president Josep Maria Bartomeu with elections set to take place in 2021, warned that Barca could follow other big European names in not being able to compete at the very highest level in modern football.

He said the impact of coronavirus, coupled with star players such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique aging and nearing the end of their career peaks, as well as the finances needed to renovate their Camp Nou home, could all have serious ramifications for Barcelona in the future.

Font told the BBC: “Competition over the last decade has become more and more professional. 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.