“It’s in the moments of greatest difficulty that I am most proud of being a Barça player.”

In addition to reviewing current sports news, Joan Laporta also spoke about all topics related to current events beyond the playing field in the second episode of the President’s Podcast, which took place on Tuesday at noon on the set of Barça Studios. During the interview, the president made it clear that now is the time to be proud of being a Barça player: “It is in the moments of greatest difficulty that I am most proud of being a Barça player.

The phrase, one of the first to be uttered by Joan Laporta, came after a season in which neither the first men’s football team nor the basketball team were able to win a single title. And just hours after Real Madrid won the Champions League, eliminated Barca in the ACB semi-finals and announced the signing of Kylian Mbappe. “I am an optimist by nature. It’s a question of the firmness of one’s convictions,” he emphasized.

Regarding the acquisitions of Mbappe and Madrid, Laporta made it clear: “I prefer our philosophy, which is to create players in their careers who can get into the first team. “I am not changing our sporting philosophy.” In this sense, he has made it clear that his concern is with Barça, not with what the sporting rivals might do, and that there are many things to be excited about in the near future.

“We are nearing the end of the economic transition”

Firstly, this is the economic situation. “We are nearing the end of the economic transition, it is getting closer. “The culés have shown patience and affection for the club and we are working to change the situation we found ourselves in when we became president.” And he added: “This year the usual results we will get a positive result and I hope that soon we can be in one 1×1 ratio“.

In this sense, Laporta explained that there is no need for a major sale this summer, but he also explained that it would be unrealistic to talk about major investments in signings. “I am a realistic optimist and speak with knowledge of the facts,” he explained. “Our revenues have increased and our costs have decreased and we are able to complete the solution to the situation that led us to a fair game last season, namely the situation with Barça Vision and Bridgeburg.

Homecoming

Another reason the culés can be excited is the return of the Camp Nou to Spotify. According to Joan Laporta, the men’s first team will return to their temple “at the end of the year.” Without naming specific dates, the president spoke about December or January, “that’s what the technical specialists and the construction company say.”

In this sense, he explained that the works “they are going at a very good pace” although things could still get better and he recalled that the return of Spotify to the Camp Nou will also imply certain inconveniences for the public present, since this return will take place at 60% capacity. “The culés will still be in discomfort, but we will return home,” he repeated, while simultaneously wanting to praise the culés’ patience with the whole process.

According to Laporta, this stadium renovation will allow Barcelona to remain in the elite, as revenues will increase significantly, and it will also be possible to realize the “collective dream” of building a new stadium without the need to increase fertilizer prices. . The idea is to be able to complete the 2024/25 season with occupancy close to 75%.

“Barcelonians have only us”

Asked about the last minute of the Negreira case, in which a Barcelona court acquitted Joan Laporta and his council from 2003 to 2010, the president again spoke without filter: “I am satisfied, but I also have the feeling that I am being asked” “Why was this made?” Of course, because of what Barça represents, because of a certain fear that everything will turn out well for us, and let’s go back to the best stage in Barça’s historywho was with me as president.”

The thoughts continued like this: “Everything is going against us. In the Negreira case, we were tried before we were convicted, and a brutal campaign was carried out to discredit us. “It appears he bought the matches when it turned out to be an arbitration recommendation documented by video.”

Joan Laporta explained that the campaign had prepared opposing fans and referees, once again citing the example of the Liga duel at the Bernabeu, in which Lamin Yamal’s ghostly goal in the first half was disallowed. “I just want to remember that the committee has not yet provided us with all the images of Lamin’s goal,” he clarified, before concluding: “They achieved the goal of damaging Barça’s reputation and in every area we faced a lot of hostility. “

In this sense, Laporta explained that the club maintains a “correct” relationship with both UEFA and FIFA and that “the Negreira case made so much noise that it was like preaching in the desert.” In this regard, he recalled that “Barcelonians have only us” and now he hopes the facts will prove Barça right.

Regarding the relationship with UEFA and the club’s commitment to the Super League, Joan Laporta also wanted to pay attention to how events are developing. “They gave us the right to organize competitions, and I think this will all end in an agreement with UEFA. “We have maintained our position next to the Super League and I think this can give us a big return, we already knew that this was a battle that would not have an immediate resolution,” he concluded.

The last institutional issue discussed was the configuration of guarantees for the 2021 elections. Joan LaPorta made it clear again: “There is nothing. No revolving doors, no compensation or reward. We did everything without committing any illegal actions. The important thing is that the next Barça president will not have to go through the same ordeal that we had to go through.”