Joan Laporta has secured a landslide victory to remain Barcelona president until 2031.
Following his re-election, he immediately sent a message to club legend Lionel Messi, insisting that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will always have a place at the Spotify Camp Nou.
A landslide victory for Laporta
Laporta has been re-elected as Barcelona president until 2031, securing a landslide victory that sets the stage for a second consecutive term. Laporta defeated rival candidate Víctor Font by claiming 68.18% of the 48,480 votes cast by club members, a result that provides him with a powerful mandate to lead the Blaugrana through their stadium transition and ongoing financial recovery.
The door remains open for a legend
In the direct aftermath of his win, Laporta addressed the elephant in the room: the potential return of Messi. “Leo will be linked to Barcelona in whatever way he wants to be,” Laporta told TV3 via ESPN.
“He deserves a tribute [match] and likewise a statue. That will be massively important. Solely Ladislao Kubala and Johan Cruyff have statues on the stadium. The doorways at Barca are all the time open to him, at any time when he needs, in order that he can proceed to strengthen and convey greatness to this establishment.”
Hitting again at Xavi’s sabotage claims
The presidential race was removed from a quiet affair, largely resulting from explosive feedback from former Barca supervisor Xavi. In the course of the marketing campaign, Xavi labeled Laporta a “liar” and alleged that the president had actively blocked Messi’s potential return to Catalonia in 2023. Laporta, nevertheless, used a fiery debate to dismantle these claims, suggesting that the legendary former midfielder had relaxed and could not stability his household {and professional} life as supervisor.
Laporta maintained that Messi’s resolution to affix Inter Miami was completely all the way down to the participant, moderately than any boardroom interference. He said: “He [Xavi] mentioned our group would not be aggressive in Europe. He was continuously dissatisfied with the squad he had. And relating to Messi, in 2023 I despatched the contract to Jorge Messi, who was very well mannered. And in Could he advised me it could not occur as a result of he can be underneath an excessive amount of stress right here and that he most popular to go to Miami. And I advised him I revered that.”
‘The very best years of our lives’
The president concluded his post-election handle with a grand promise to the Barcelona trustworthy, insisting that the hardships of the previous few years are coming to an finish. With the Spotify Camp Nou set to return to full capability throughout his mandate and the group main the best way in La Liga, Laporta believes the membership is coming into a golden age that may rival his first profitable stint within the mid-2000s.
“To win titles, which is what the followers love, but in addition to play properly. And to complete the stadium midway via the mandate, as a result of that ensures the membership’s future on a monetary degree but in addition a venue becoming for placing on a present on the pitch. The very best years of our lives lie in wait,” Laporta advised Mundo Deportivo.
