Joan Laporta secured a landslide victory in Barcelona’s presidential election on Sunday, winning 32,934 of the 48,480 votes cast by club members, according to results released by ESPN. The win, coming on the same day Barcelona defeated Sevilla 5-2 in La Liga, marks Laporta’s second consecutive mandate and fourth overall as president of the Catalan club.
The election coincided with a period of significant on-field success for Barcelona, who are currently competing in the Champions League round of 16. They drew 1-1 with Newcastle United in the first leg of their tie last week, with the return leg scheduled for Wednesday. Laporta’s victory speech, delivered amidst celebrations, emphasized a commitment to defending the club “against everything and everyone,” and promised “the best of our lives” in the coming years.
The campaign leading up to the election was marked by pointed exchanges between Laporta and his rival, Victor Font. Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández publicly supported Font’s campaign, and, in an interview published by La Vanguardia on Sunday, leveled criticism at Laporta’s handling of the club. Specifically, Xavi claimed that Laporta had blocked Lionel Messi’s potential return to Barcelona in 2023, a claim Laporta refuted on Monday, stating that Messi’s decision not to return was due to the pressure he anticipated facing.
Xavi also asserted that La Liga had initially approved Barcelona’s ability to sign Messi within their financial fair play regulations. Although, La Liga president Javier Tebas subsequently denied this, telling Spanish public broadcaster RTVE that no such discussions had taken place with Barcelona officials. This discrepancy raises questions about the circumstances surrounding Messi’s eventual move to Inter Miami.
Laporta’s re-election is expected to provide stability as Barcelona continues to navigate financial challenges and pursue further success on the pitch. With Camp Nou undergoing renovations to increase its capacity to 105,000, Laporta believes the club’s finances are improving, allowing them to compete more effectively with clubs backed by significant investment. The club currently has a capacity of nearly 63,000 fans.
While Laporta celebrated his victory, he acknowledged the possibility of his temporary chief, Rafa Yuste, leading the team to Champions League glory should they win the competition before his official mandate begins in July. “If Yuste wins this Champions League, it will be wonderful, he is like a brother to me,” Laporta said.
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