The Círculo Ecuestre received this Tuesday, March 7, the president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta. After the introduction of the president of the institution, Antonio Delgado, and the presentation of the vice president, Enrique Lacalle, the businessman had an interesting chat with the journalist and director of El Mundo Deportivo, Santi Nolla, who was in charge of moderating the event.

The presentation took place in the context of the anniversary of the FC Barcelona elections, therefore, the moderator wanted to ask the president about the team's next moves. Laporta valued that “Xavi is a coach who has risked it. The board of directors has also done a good job, first in the winter market and then in the summer. We are nine points behind and the will is to want to keep the distance”.

Regarding Xavi's renewal, the president assured that he "has considered it" and insisted that "I want to convey a message of calm to him. He has to be renewed because he knows the house, he defends the Barça style ”. As for Busquets, Laporta said that he "has been talking to each other", but that he prefers to know what he wants to do: "He is a fundamental person in the dressing room. He believes in our system. Xavi wants him to continue and he is thinking about it, plus he has other offers to continue his career at another level. We have not yet made a firm proposal, we will do it soon, a club proposal to continue for another year”, he said.

Nolla asked the speaker about the signings that Barça will make in the coming months, to which Laporta assured that he is "enjoying the defense we have, it is helping us win games". “We will try to do everything we can to sign. We want a striker, yes, but someone will have to come out. We have a great midfield, so it won't be necessary. There are players who will reach the first team. We have to promote the career of those who are in the house”, he said. Laporta concluded the issue by confirming that "one more striker could fit, but financially we don't have the best resources, so we have to act responsibly and sustainably".

During the colloquium, the president of FC Barcelona spoke about controversial issues, such as Leo Messi's departure: “We have seen his father. We talked about the situation, I congratulated him on the World Cup in Argentina and I told him I'm glad Messi won the World Cup. We talked about the tribute, but now he is at Paris Saint Germain”. Laporta acknowledged that "if he went back he would have had to make the same decision". 

"The institution is above players even if they are the best in the world or in history".

 

The journalist and director of El Mundo Deportivo did not want to miss the opportunity to ask Laporta about the Negreira case. The president replied that FC Barcelona "is preparing a press conference to talk about it" and qualified that "Barça has never dedicated itself to buying referees nor has it dedicated itself to influencing". The president expressed his conviction that there is "a campaign highly oriented to control FC Barcelona", for which he added that: "in the Professional Football League it has not been accepted that Barça did not sign the CVC contract and that we found solutions better alternatives for the interests of Barça. It hasn't helped that Barça supports the Super League either, but what we want is harmonization and the only difference is that the clubs would govern this competition”. Laporta went on to explain that “the Professional Soccer League and CVC want to control the Club. They want to lead us to a situation that strangles us financially so that we have to become an SA”. "What motivates me the most about being president, among other reasons, is to defend our ownership model".

"The members and partners of Barça will be the owners of the club while I am president".

During the discussion, Laporta made special emphasis on the Espai Barça project: “We have considered everything, but the Espai Barça is part of the Club's feasibility plan and it is already 10 years behind schedule. Now it will be a reality and we will start the works on June 1”, to which he added “it is an absolutely necessary and fundamental project and the guarantees are the additional income that the Espai Barça will generate once it is built”.

As for the financing of the project, the president of FC Barcelona explained: "Now we have the works awarded and we already have the financing, but we are studying alternatives to improve conditions and we have given ourselves until March 31". "The financing will be there and what will be a reality is the Espacio Barça", he stressed.

“Next year will be tough as we will be in Montjuic, outside the Camp Nou. A mobility and security plan is being carried out together with the Barcelona City Council and the Mossos body. The capacity will also be greatly reduced, which will mean a restructuring”, he said.