Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona gave an exclusive interview to Onze, last night. He answered many questions that were going on inside the heads of Barca fans.
Joan Laporta on being President
The interviewer, Xavier Valls questioned Laporta that whether he regretted running for the presidency. The president replied that those who love Barca will not regret it and that they are here to improve the club. He then jokingly referred to the club as a patient in the ICU. Although, he assured the club is improving and that the data reflects it.
Joan Laporta on Messi
Valls asked the president, what happened with Lionel Messi.
Laporta said that La Liga forced them to a situation in which they either had to sign the CVC deal or abide by the fair play.
Upon seeing the audit results, the board decided it would be better for the club if Messi was not re-signed. The club had a two-year agreement with the Argentine which, La Liga did not agree with. The contract then was spread over the next five years which, the Spanish League authorities liked better. On August 5th, La Liga told Barcelona that they should agree to the CVC deal to be able to sign Messi.
The CVC deal, if signed, would have seen the TV rights of the club mortgaged for the next 50 years. The president rejected the idea because he cannot take decisions that would affect the club beyond his tenure.
Both the club and the player’s parties had to move on as they could not wait longer.
The president said that Barcelona will always be eternally grateful for what Messi has done for the club. Laporta also said it was not the end he saw for Messi at the club and that it feels weird seeing Messi in another kit.
He went on to say that Jorge Messi’s statement earlier in the week was normal and it was out of frustration.
Joan Laporta on Salary reduction
Laporta stated that the club has reduced its wage bill from 110% of revenue to 80%. He wanted to congratulate Mateu Alemany and CEO Ferran Reverter for the job done as it is not easy to do it with signed contracts. The president praised the four captains of the club for being an example to the rest of the squad, taking the wage cut.
He also said that other players are cooperating in the wage reduction. Meanwhile, the club’s target for wages is to be in the range of 65% and 70% of the revenue.
The president added further that even if the pay cut was done before, it was impossible to sign Lionel Messi.
He stressed that it was important to achieve the wage reduction for more ambitious signings shortly.
Joan Laporta on Koeman
Laporta says that he likes Koeman as a coach. He said,
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“The Johan style is non-negotiable and Koeman’s Cruyff is indisputable. He has a huge portrait of Cruyff in his office. Sometimes, as a football fan, I have let myself go in ‘off the record conversations with your colleagues, but I respect Koeman a lot.”
Laporta on Puig, Collado, and Umtiti
The 59-year-old said that he wants Puig to play. The president already has let his wish known publicly before. Meanwhile, he also thinks Collado and Umtiti will get minutes this season. It is important to know, Collado still has not been registered with either the first team or the B-team.
Luuk De Jong
This is what he had to say on the new signing.
“He is Dutch, we also had Salinas in the Dream Team, Jordi( son of Johan Cruyff) says that even his father sometimes took solutions that came from the model. Also Pep Guardiola. Luuk is a player who can do well.”
He also feels De Jong can offer something different to the team in tough moments.
Griezmann
Laporta said that the attitude of the French star was unquestionable. Although, he admits more was expected of the player. He wished the player all the success in the future. The president revealed, a condition in the compulsory purchase option of Griezmann. The player must have played 50% of the available games for the mandatory buy option to be eligible.
On Pique’s presidential credentials
Laporta feels Pique has all the qualities to be a president. He sees Piques as a Barcelona president one day.
Super League is not dead
The president made it clear in the interview that the idea of the Super League is still not dead. He said that Barcelona along with Real Madrid and Juventus are still convinced of the project. Laporta feels that Javier Tebas ( La Liga’s president ) should see the project as benefitting all the parties rather than, seeing it as an attack on La Liga.
Neymar wanted a Barcelona return
Neymar, according to Laporta wanted a return to the Catalan club in the summer. He says that the player himself was desperate for the move to happen.
Possibilities of Xavi as coach
Joan Laporta says that he admires the former Barca player and loves him very much. But he feels that talking of Xavi as a future coach with Koeman present is a disrespect to the Dutch coach.
He also credited Koeman for Memphis Depay’s blistering start to his Barca career. He said,
” Memphis scores goals and also sells jerseys. It’s to Koeman’s credit. Now he believes in De Jong. The coach always feels lonely, I am with him. I will not stop talking about football because I need to be explained to me and we play a lot. What we need is for the team to win, play well and win. And what we want is that 100,000 can come to the stadium.”
Laporta ended the interview with a positive message for all Barcelona fans around the world that everything will be fine.
