BARCELONA – Jordi Farré, 45 years old, tends to joke with his date of birth: it coincided with the day that Francisco Franco, the dictator who ruled Spain between 1939 and that November 20, 1975 died. He was very faithful to Núñez, unlike him, and defends the need to “regain joy” in a Barça that, beyond the dramatic crisis it suffers, contemplates “depressed”.
His loyalty, and fanaticism, for the club caused that at age 10, in May 1986, he left home without warning, with a friend, and traveled to Seville to see the unfortunate final of the European Cup that Barcelona lost. in front of the Steaua. It is not surprising that he keeps that game in his mind as the most bitter memory, “next to the final in Athens”, and hesitates “between Iniestazo, the final in Paris and 2-6” as the happiest moment.
Partner 17,456 proclaims Lionel Messi as “the greatest player I have ever seen”, recognizes that his first idol was “Maradona” and goes to the elections with an indestructible spirit, a project “very worked” and proposals so groundbreaking that they invite reflection.
– Why are you running for the presidency?
– Because Barça is my passion, which has motivated me all my life, and I feel prepared to lead it, in the company of a very solvent team, with a lot of talent and maximum enthusiasm. For any culer, being the president of Barça is a dream and I consider that I am at the ideal moment.
– Is it better than the other candidates?
– I don’t know if I’m better but, as I have already told you, Barça has focused my entire life. Always, since I can remember, my plans have gone hand in hand with the game at the Camp Nou, with a final in some section, with a television game. We are the only ones who put the partner first. Barça needs serious management, highly prepared executives, and we have all that … But it also needs passion. Barça partners usually identify with a president who does not hide his emotions or bow his head.
– With Jordi Farré, would Real Madrid be less calm?
– That’s what I mean when I talk about not lowering your head. You have to raise your voice, for example, with the scandal that led to the end of the last League, which was one of the most adulterated in the last 40 years. Madrid has been very benefited and so it continues. I don’t want anything to be given to me, but I don’t want it taken away either.
– Do you best represent the partner on foot, the one closest to the stands?
– I have been a member since the day I was born, I estimate that I have made more than 250 trips between all the sections of the club and, of course, I know the social reality much more than others who, honestly, I do not know where they were when there was no need to show barcelonismo. That is why we want, above all, to give our people all the facilities. From the age of 25, the membership fee will no longer be paid, they will have absolute priority in buying tickets for trips, especially in the finals, their attendance at the stadium will be rewarded … And a job bank will be created in the that the partners will have all the advantages.
– The first challenge is to pass the signature cut. There are many candidates …
– And we will have to see who accompanies us, because we are convinced that we will. I understand that Laporta, due to his status as former president, and Font, who is dedicating a lot of resources and for a long time, will also pass. From here I don’t dare to predict if there will be someone else.
– Giving away pizzas and tattoos, was it a good idea? It provoked mockery …
– It was a touch of humor, a groundbreaking idea. They made a big impact and I am amused when you want to make fun of it. Look, in other elections there were pre-candidates who gave away DTT devices, signed balls, pens, T-shirts … And that’s not to mention underhand promises that would leave more than one and two in a bad place. Using that marketing idea to discredit ourselves is ridiculous.
– Are you not afraid of being drowned in the face to face between Font and Laporta?
– No. A lie repeated a thousand times does not end up being true and it seems that there are people interested in offering that scenario that is not true. Of all the pre-candidacies, ours is the only fresh one, without ties of the past and that is valued by the partner. We are convinced that we will be chosen on January 24th.
– Font is also new …
– New? In 2003 he could not enter with Soriano because he did not have the minimum seniority required as a partner and in 2010 he campaigned with England. Then he left … I don’t see him as someone who lives Barça with the necessary passion but I do see him as someone who has spent many years moving in the circles of power and now trying to take him.
– Laporta…
– For me he is one of the best presidents in the history of the club, but I think his time is over. The Laporta of the Elefant Blau, the president of 2003, his personality … We represent that freshness today.
– Do you consider the option of electoral pacts with other candidates?
– It’s funny because they have called me from three pre-candidacies while we have not contacted anyone. I do not contemplate that option of alliances; If someone wants to join our project, we can talk about it, but we work thinking only of the Barça partner and I don’t know if everyone can say the same.
– They say that their proposal to eliminate the waiting list with the season tickets is unfeasible …
– They say, they say … But they don’t argue. There is a waiting list of more than 9,000 members, with a 96,000-seat stadium and an average entry of just over 70,000 fans at the stadium. You can be sure that on January 25th we will end that.
– He also proposes to create his own clothing brand …
– We don’t need Nike at all. Our intention, and we have carefully studied it, is to create the Barça brand. It will create many direct and indirect jobs in Catalonia and will offer us the benefits directly. Look, the best example is the masks: 400 thousand Barça masks have been manufactured without the need for Nike, which have meant four million for the club. That is why we want the exclusive in the clothing line.
– But Nike pays a lot of money to dress Barça …
– Money that comes from your benefits thanks to the club itself. If all the manufacturing and sales management is in the hands of Barça, together with a partner, the direct benefit for the club would be enormous. The idea is to create a clothing line, beyond t-shirts, everything. Look, the Sankt Pauli of Germany had a contract with a brand that gave them 4 million euros and making their own brand last year they entered about 50. And we are talking about a Second Division club, with a market incomparable to Barça as well Imagine what that will mean for us.
– What is your idea with Espai Barça?
– Espai Barça will not cost the club one euro. So clear. The investment will be made by a concessionaire, a company that finances the project, assumes the payment and distributes the resulting profit with the club. We cannot increase the debt by 800 million euros. The company puts in the money, exploits the concession and pays us a canon every year, let’s say 100 million. If annually we have 170 profit the accounts are clear.
– Bet on Neymar, despite the rejection that awakens among part of the fans …
– Neymar is very cheap, he is a footballer who makes a difference and we have to be brave, explain things as they are and make people understand that with him our growth is exponential. We have spoken with his environment, we manage that his signing, entering the last year of the contract, may be around 50 million euros and that it grants an unquestionable sporting bonus. The partner is not against Neymar, the partner is in favor of Barça.
– Before, many things would have to be arranged with him.
– Neymar would ask for forgiveness, he would withdraw all the demands, without humiliation, with humility … You have to be brave and assume that we are all wrong. The best have to be at Barça and we know they want to go home.
– Your idea is …
– That the squad is made up of 80 percent of players from the quarry and the rest with the best footballers in the world. That must be Barça’s sports philosophy, which is the one that has given it the best results in the past.
– The first challenge is to convince Messi to stay … If you want him to continue.
– Of course we are committed to its continuity. We cannot imagine Messi with another shirt and we have worked so that he stays, offering him a life project that goes beyond his career as a footballer. Leo is from Barça, he is culé, and he only needs a project to feel excited, to be so again. Create a Messi-Barça brand of which he is the president and convey to him the assurance that he is our undisputed figure.
– You should lower your contract. Is it feasible?
– I have spoken with those around him and I know that his wish is to stay at Barça. It is clear that at this point in his career money is not his main motivation. Leo wants a winning project, to see that Barça is respected again, that there is enthusiasm, motivation … He will have that with us, without any doubt.
– You have talked about a Messi-Barça brand. Would it be another way to finance its continuity?
– Take a look at Michael Jordan. He has been retired for 20 years and his brand has a turnover of more than 10 billion dollars annually. The image of Messi is powerful enough around the world to, in collaboration with Barça, create his own line that would provide indisputable benefits.
– Choose: Haaland or Mbappé?
– They are two magnificent players. I would define myself as the one that best suits the football philosophy of the team, the one that best fits the idea of the game. We have spoken with many people because from the 25th we cannot waste time, we have to start working on all fronts and start signing.
– But the club is on the verge of bankruptcy. Is all that manageable?
– Barça is not on the verge of bankruptcy. It has an equity value of more than 3 billion euros and its brand is still very powerful. It is true that we are in a difficult situation, with a liquidity problem and we must renegotiate the debt that we have in the short term, which is close to 500 million euros. Banks have to understand that they are dealing with Barcelona, not with a minor client.
– Is Koeman your coach?
– Koeman is the coach of Barça and Koeman is also a legend of Barcelona who deserves all our respect and unconditional support. When we get to the club we will talk to him, we will explain our project to him and if his idea matches ours there will be no problem. You also have to think that perhaps it is he who does not want to continue but, in any case, his figure is not in question.
– Xavi? What do you think is an electoral weapon?
– You cannot play so happily with the name of a Barcelona player. He himself has left the stage and that has been a very clear sign that Font does not have as many things as they have sold us and that hesitant shows his fear. Xavi is the club’s heritage, he is the best midfielder in history, for Barça and in the world, and he has already said that he will not come until 2022. In our opinion, he is the future of Barça but he must start with the subsidiary and then take the step. It seems to me that he does not want to train former teammates and he does want to start with a different project.
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