Optimistic, with a smile and the conviction that Barça is on the right track to become a competitive team again. This is how the president Joan Laporta appeared in an interview with the club's media where he took stock of 2022 and expressed his best wishes for 2023. Everything happens to win the League again while they await the resolution of the TSJE on the Super League. what was said Optimism with everything and without regretting anything. The president prefers to look ahead.
"We are going at a good recovery rate. It has been a hard year in which we have needed to be brave. Sportingly, this 2022 has served to have an increasingly competitive team that should last two years with some adjustments if appropriate. But we can compete and aspire to win titles. There is hope in Barcelona. And we want more", Laporta pointed out. Leo Messi cannot be included in that more. Regarding the Argentine, who has already reached an agreement in principle to renew with PSG, Laporta acknowledged that "although I would love for him to return, we cannot raise expectations. It is something very complex. For us, Messi is the best player of all time. And I am convinced that his heart is culé".
In its long marathon of recovery, Barcelona activated several levers, selling part of its assets in order to have liquidity. The president explained. "The levers have been to save the club and to make the team more competitive." Will more come? "Now La Liga has established some limitations on the levers. They must be the sale of assets that do not generate resources on a recurring basis. But if we have to carry out an operation like this, it would not be destined to the signing of a player. We do not contemplate that, we contemplate increasing income and reduce expenses," he said.
Next year Barcelona will have to move to Monjuïc. The remodeling works of the Camp Nou and the Estadi Olímpic have already started. "Within the first half of January we will know the winner of the works that will carry out the reform and this great work that will be an architectural jewel. We will return in autumn 2024 and there will be a part of the capacity that will not be available. We want the deadlines to be met , we can allow ourselves a year out of the stadium but more is not recommended", said Laporta, who added that "negotiations with the city council have gone very well. We are preparing the pitch at Montjuïc so that it is suitable for playing there. Both Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have shown us confidence to look for investors. There is a lot of interest because it is a reference work in southern Europe," he insisted.
For Barça to finish starting, the arrival of titles is essential. "We have the Cup, the Super Cup and the Europa League but above all we want the League. And we will achieve it. There are young players and also footballers with proven experience who reinforce this team", said Laporta, who assured that the future of Xavi Hernández does not depend on the achievement of titles. "He has exceeded my expectations. He is the best coach in the world. His continuity does not depend on whether they win titles. His project has started this year because it is when we have been able to bring him the players he wanted," he said The proud.
In this sense, he assured that there will be no signings in January because "we did the work in the summer and at this moment there are no symptoms of having to do operations. We have a midfield that we have Busi as master of ceremonies, Pedri, Gavi, Frnekie, Kessié ... In front we have men like Ansu Fati in whom we have high hopes. There is Lewandowski, Ferran, Raphinha, Dembélé... In defense with Araujo as a center back, with an Eric who knows how to get the ball very well like the great players. In addition to Ter Stegen, we have Peña and Tenas. I have forgotten Balde (laughs). When you talk about a player you have to think so as not to leave any behind. Jordi Alba has also had a very good World Cup", he concluded.
And after winning the League? The president is clear. "What has motivated me to be president is to win the Champions League again. And I am convinced that it will be like that".
In his mind he does not forget the Super League either, which awaits the sentence of the TSJE. "The Premier will go from 5,000 to 7,000 million in investment. The League from 2,000 to 1,700. Thus, we cannot compete in LaLiga with the Premier teams, because they have more resources and this has to change. We have been brave in this aspect and in spring the Court of Luxembourg will dictate a resolution that I hope will be favorable to the interests of the clubs and to the free European competition, that is the controversy that there is with the UEFA", ensured.
Maintaining the firm intention that "while I am president, Barça will be owned by its partners," he defended that his son Guim, representative and recruiter of young footballers, has never profited from the Blaugrana club. "This was demonstrated by the Compliance department. In the end, I cannot tell a 25-year-old man not to work on one thing or another. Enjoy this recruiting job, he goes all over the coast to watch football matches, no I can prohibit him from working on what he likes, which is attracting young players. He has a limit at home. He knows that the limit is Barça".
In his letter to the Kings, Laporta has asked that Busquets continue at Barcelona because "we are talking about players who have made history. Legends and extraordinary people who are part of the shield. And Xavi also wants him to continue" and he added several thanks to Gerard Piqué who has freed 5 million of salary mass by leaving at the end of November.
Reviewing other professional sections of the club, he praised Barça Femenino, which continues without losing in the F League and has qualified first in the Champions League group at the Camp Nou. Precisely the president remains from this 2022 with the two world attendance records and with the high participation of the people in the Barça fiefdom.
And for Christmas? "Gallet soup, carn d'olla and a well-stuffed turkey, and with the family" without first hoping that the Barça TV colleagues reach an agreement with Telefonica to improve their working conditions. The meeting that will decide whether on December 31 the employees go ahead with the planned strike for the derby will be held on December 28.
