Joan Laporta, candidate for the presidency of FC Barcelona, This afternoon in a ceremony with partners praised the figure of the Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, hinting that he has options to be his coach for next season if he wins the March 7 election. He has also taken the opportunity to show his confidence that Leo Messi will stay at Barça because he knows that “he wants to be here”.
“When you are president of this club you have to make decisions and Koeman, like all coaches, will depend on the results and the game. But I'm seeing that he picks up the tone more and more, the team too, and what should be supported is the experience. Koeman is now our coach and what I will do is motivate him to the maximum. I like the change in orientation you have made with your statements lately“, Laporta explained, answering the questions of the attendees in La Teixonera, a neighborhood of Barcelona.
Regarding the continuity of Messi, has declared itself “moderately optimistic”, arguing that “it will not be easy for Leo to stay because he has offers of equipment and they do not lack money because there is a tycoon or a country behind“. Laporta made it clear that he knows the Argentine well:” Leo is comfortable here and I am convinced by what I know him and by what I love him that he wants to stay. Leo loves Barça and is very well in Barcelona, here he has power. I am convinced and I enjoy the credibility of Leo, I feel the experience because I have had very beautiful moments with him and his family “.
On the delicate financial situation of the club, transmitted tranquility: “In our candidacy we are very motivated, we love Barça and that gives us tremendous strength. Our main motivation is that We want the members to continue being the owners of the club, it is essential. We are also in a time of maximum economic difficulty and we have a crash plan to reverse this situation and to re-float Barça. The club with us will once again be economically sustainable. We have the experience, we have the preparation, we have the determination and we are going to put Barcelona back where it deserves”.