BarcelonaThose who know Joan Laporta well usually refer to him as an intuitive person. That’s why, after months without offering a balance sheet press conference, I thought now was a good time to come out and talk. These are sweet moments for him, with Barça the sole leader in the League with an eight point margin over Real Madrid, with the Super Cup under his arm and after closing a winter signing market in which he was able to formalize the registration of Gavi as a footballer of the first team.
Football has taken a break this week, and before the twists and turns of the Europa League arrive, with the demanding game against Manchester United and the subsequent Copa del Rey tie against Real Madrid, Laporta offered to give an answer to some of the topics that have generated more controversy in recent days, such as the awarding of the Camp Nou works to the Turkish company Limak and, more recently, to the rant of Leo Messi’s brother, Matías, charging directly against him . An issue, the latter, which has quickly been removed: “He has already apologized, there is no need to give it more importance.”
Nothing has taken Laporta off guard, at least in front of the public. Relaxed and rested, he has shown once again his oratory ability, of articulating a speech without almost reading any paper and skilled in the answers, despite the fact that he does not always answer what is asked of him. He made an initial speech of three quarters of an hour to take stock of the club before submitting to questions from the media. A lot of rhetoric and little individual data during the almost two hours that the appearance has lasted. However, some doubts surrounding the move to Montjuïc next season have not disappeared, especially with regard to transport difficulties or the risk of having to extend the exile to an Olympic stadium that only it will have capacity, according to him, for 49,000 spectators. Or about the future of Ansu Fati, of whom he has limited himself to saying that the club “does not foresee the sale” but that, all in all, it will depend on his role in the team and whether the player shows interest in the suitcases.
Doubts about Limak
The Turkish construction company Limak was one of the central points of the press conference, in which Laporta defended tooth and nail that the awarding process to remodel the Camp Nou was “exemplary”. He admitted, however, that of all the proposals received, Limak was the only one that had committed to the “demanding conditions” that the club asked for in terms of price and execution period. He has never spoken of Barça’s commitment, but of Limak. A way, perhaps, to anticipate the move if the bad forecasts about the execution of the works are finally fulfilled.
At this point, Laporta, who was accompanied in the question period by the economic vice-president, Eduard Romeu, and by the director of football, Mateu Alemany, has guaranteed that the financing will be closed “in the first quarter” of this 2023, with the negotiations are well on track in this regard.
Complaints from Laporta to the ‘fair play’ of the League
The president, looking at the signing market, has made clear the complaint about the restrictions that the League is putting in the salary control regulations. Some “legitimate” traversals of the employer, he clarified. But, in any case, some limitations that they are “negotiating” to be able to register players like Ronald Araujo, to renew contracts like that of Alejandro Balde and to strengthen themselves in the summer. “Each time we have overcome an obstacle, the League has changed the rule for us so that we do not do this kind of operation again. This is a constant tug-of-war that complicates sports planning”, lamented the president, especially in comparison with other leagues.
Despite everything, Laporta has vindicated the salary cut that has been made in recent months – as demanded by Javier Tebas, president of the employer -, he has highlighted that only the departures of Piqué and Griezmann have meant a saving of 90 million towards the next year and, therefore, it is seen capacity to comply with the regulations of fair play and be able to make additions next summer. Indeed, he has engaged in fact to sign “I think we will do it, we are ready to meet the demands that Xavi makes of us,” he said. He also thanked the coach for being understanding with the club’s financial situation: “He has never asked us to stretch our arm more than our sleeve.”
With the case of Ansu Fati to be resolved, the president has said that “it is not necessary” for the painful sale to end, the euphemism used at the Camp Nou to justify the transfer of an important player to make drawer But he clarified that he did not rule it out completely and that it will depend on the “possibilities” of the market. In other words, they will value it if Ansu explicitly asks to leave the club and presents a good offer.
Regarding Busquets, the president has left the renewal up in the air. He has spoken highly of the captain, but has not weighed in on his future. “We haven’t sat down to talk because neither side has considered it the right time.” Instead, he did talk about a media signing, that of Ronaldinho’s son, who will join the club’s youth B team. “It has a good plant”, he said about it.
Finally, and to close an appearance that began with a minute of silence in memory of Marcos Alonso, who died at the age of 63 as a victim of cancer, he referred to the Kings League, the final phase of which will be played at the Camp new The president has spoken of the rental of the stadium as a business opportunity, but has disassociated the transfer with the termination of Gerard Piqué’s contract: “It has nothing to do with it”.