Joan Laporta was comfortably elected as Barcelona president for his second spell in an important moment in their history.
Barca’s greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, is 33 and could leave the club in the summer while it has been reported their finances are not in the best shape.
AFP - Getty
The new chief’s platform was run on him being a safe pair of hands who oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club’s history and that only he would have the best chance of keeping Messi at the club.
Laporta was previously Barcelona president from 2003 to 2010 and the club won four LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues during that time, as well as six other trophies. He was also the man who gave an untested Pep Guardiola his first manager’s job.
Amid celebrations after he’d won more than 54 per cent of the vote, Laporta said: “Now let’s go to Paris and see if we can make another ‘remontada’ [comeback] happen!
AFP - Getty
“Seeing Leo [Messi] go to vote, the best player in the world, voting with his son, for me, this shows what we’ve said all along, that Leo loves Barca, that we are all a big family. Hopefully that helps him to stay which is what we all want.”
Barcelona are 4-1 down in their Champions League last-16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain, but the future is what he’ll have his eye on.
The Messi situation is his first priority while also trying to rebuild a club gripped by crisis.
On the Messi contract, Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter told talkSPORT: “The chances were nil last August, 25 per cent in the autumn, I think they’ve increased to about 60-65 per cent now.
“I think he’ll stay. You still have to offer him money. It’s back to money again, they have to say to him ‘this is what we value you staying, Leo’ and if they get that right maybe he stays.
“Messi is patently happier than he was last August and playing well. He’s LaLiga’s leading scorer.
“He’s not going to play like he was 24, but he’s still exceptional.”
If Laporta is successful in keeping Messi at the club then it could arguably considered one of his finest achievements.
AFP OR LICENSORS
He may have failed to bring David Beckham to Camp Nou, but here, talkSPORT.com looks at the incredible list of players Laporta did sign during his first spell as president, starting with the previous darling of Catalonia.
Ronaldinho
The marquee signing for Laporta in 2003 was of the Brazilian from Paris Saint-Germain for £25million.
Beckham had been his target but lost out on the England star to rivals Real Madrid and needed a big name to compete.
That turned out to be Ronaldinho – one of the most popular signings the club has made.
He heralded a return to the glory years for Barcelona while dazzling fans with his incredible ability on the ball.
Laporta also signed Ricardo Quaresma and Giovanni van Bronckhorst during the same summer.
AFP - Getty
Samuel Eto’o
The Cameroon striker was signed in the summer of 2004 and went on to have great career at the Nou Camp scoring 130 goals in 199 games.
He also won three LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues – scoring in the finals against Arsenal and Man United.
What would have made the Eto’o transfer all the more satisfying is how they got one over on historic rivals Real Madrid.
Madrid brought him to Spain as a 17-year-old before he joined Mallorca in 2000, following several loan spells.
Eto’o was still part-owned by Madrid and initially they wanted to buy him back then loan him out.
Eventually, Laporta got his way and proved to be a critical signing.
AFP - Getty
Thierry Henry
The 2007/08 season was an important one for Laporta and Barcelona with the team needing a refresh and one of those players signed was Henry.
It came as a little bit of a surprise that they were able to sign Arsenal’s record goalscorer for a mere £16million, although he was 30 at the time.
It was ultimately a successful time for Henry and Barca, winning two LaLiga titles and that all-important Champions League over just three seasons.
AFP - Getty
Eric Abidal
Abidal cost just £13.5million from Lyon in 2007 and he went on to be an important figure at the Non Camp, particularly during Pep Guardiola’s reign.
The defender had numerous health problems during his time at the club and even needed a liver transplant in 2012 – Dani Alves actually offered to donate part of his liver but Abidal refused as he didn’t want it to affect his career.
Despite his health issues, the France international played 195 times over five seasons winning an astonishing 15 trophies.
Abidal was a popular player at Barcelona and even returned to the club as sporting director in 2018, before being sacked two years later.
Getty Images - Getty
Dani Alves
The right-back was another key figure under the Guardiola reign and was signed by Laporta for £32million from Sevilla in 2008.
Alves is the most decorated player in history winning 41 trophies – 23 of which came at Barcelona.
He is arguably one of the greatest right-backs seen in the modern game, certainly the most attacking full-back we’ve seen.
AFP - Getty
Gerard Pique
Pique had joined Man United in 2004 and spent four years at the club, but struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.
He played just 23 times for the Red Devils before Barcelona exercised a buy-back clause of just £5million.
Pique has gone on to be a Barcelona hero amassing 558 appearances with eight LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues among his 29 honours.
The 34-year-old is still at the club as Laporta’s second reign begins, but his time at the Nou Camp is ultimately coming to an end.
AFP - Getty
David Villa
One of Laporta’s final acts as Barcelona president was to set up the deal to sign Villa from Valencia for €40million.
It was a parting gift for his successor with the striker going on to score 23 goals in his first season as they won a league and Champions League double.
Villa lasted just three seasons at Barca, though, scoring 48 goals in 119 games.
AFP - Getty
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/3vlp4FI
via IFTTT
No Comment