Joan Laporta appeared on the Camp Nou tribune around 6:35 p.m. afternoon to give his inauguration speech as new president of Barça until June 2026. Cruyff at the beginning (“God only knows what it took to get here), the players in the center of the speech to regain the virtuous circle; Gamper as an axis (“it was door to door when we had 32 partners”), to recover economic sustainability. But most of all Messi. The Argentine was unfazed, but the appeal was direct near the end of the speech. Laporta goes to work with the Argentine: “As long as we have the trunk of the club healthy, it will be fine. I appeal to the Barça fans, to those who think about what they can do for Barça, to help in this situation. But that does not mean shirking responsibility. That is not running away from responsibilities. Because I come here to command; and to try to convince Messi to stay. Because Messi loves Barça. And if the field were full, Leo, you couldn't go. “
Messi, overwhelmed, barely flinched while the stands applauded wildly Laporta's speech. The first, their companions Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto, who were on his rightSergio Busquets, with a personal matter, could not attend). But also the new basketball heroes: Jasikevicius, Mirotic, Oriola. And even Bartomeu and Rosell. Laporta wanted to explain to Messi that he is possibly the only Barça asset that generates unanimity.
Laporta's speech, which lasted for almost half an hour, had everything. To begin with, and as always, to the great Cruyff in front: “It came to mind when Johan said in this stadium; God only knows what it took to get here”. And he left his first pill: “And he was not only referring to money. I always try to flee from catastrophies, victimisms. I always try to be positive. I want humility, but also courage because you have to be brave.”
A decisive part of the new president's speech had to do with the players. of the professional sections. In complicity with them, and now with them, he gestated and wants to gestate Laporta the success of his tenure: “I want to tell you that I have a special sensitivity with the players. Thanks for coming. You are the ones who give joy to Barcelona fans. When I hung that 1,000-square-meter banner in Madrid, on Paseo de la Habana, I also put it up for you. I wanted to see you again. I am happy to see you again. You are the soul of this club, which allows it to ride. You know me. You will see a president who will be at your disposal. We are here to help you and to protect you. Your work is hard. People think that the life of the player is easy and it is very difficult. You have great talent and you are the key to the club. And now more than ever. Because the boys and girls in this club are more alone than ever because they don't have the support of the people. Now you have to love them more than ever. With us you will not be alone. And there are no things that make me more excited that you are comfortable in the club. And that's where we are. In never leaving you alone. ” Laporta also had a gesture for the club's workers, subjected to ERTES and layoffs during the pandemic. “You have set an example and kept the club alive”, He said.
A game changer in the direction of the economy with a fantastic nod to Gamper: “When we had 32 partners, it was door to door to keep Barça alive.” As in the campaign, Laporta wanted to send a message of calm: “The economic situation has generated some concern and we have the priority that the club is sustainable. It will take work and effort and, now that we have full powers (transferred by the Management Board only an hour before), we will have to put the shock plan into motion and try to reverse the situation. And we will. It gives us respect, yes; but it doesn't scare us. The team of people who accompany me have this way of being. We are not scared of changes. And if we have to make decisions that have never been made before, we will make them. “And a little tweak to the players: “You have to go for the Cup and for LaLiga. I know there are other sections, what can I say about the women's girls?, of Pasqui in handball or Saras, but in football we want to win again. We have already conspired from Paris to win titles and we will do whatever it takes to show that we are competitive. ” For Koeman also a particular message: “Full confidence, Ronald”.
New mention of Gamper to explain to the members of the audience at the Camp Nou what it means The farmhouse: “It has to be a guarantee of the future of the club. Gamper said it, I think in 1925. Underneath the shield our hearts beat. Gamper wanted Barça, he saved us from a difficult situation, when we were left with 32 partners. And now we find ourselves in a difficult situation. You have to take the suitcase and sell to Barça again, find the sponsors. Just think that one of the things we are proud of is Gamper's legacy. We know that in this club there is no margin. The Barça does not have a hundred days of margin like in the governments. This is at the Sunday game. There is no margin but that does not scare me. No one is a virgin in this story and we know how to take it. “
And of course, a speech full of convictions about the freedom of expression that Barça has shown in its history: “Barça is more than a club. We have an important symbolic and representative charge of Catalonia. We do not want to supplant (he said pointing to Pere Aragonés or Laura Borràs, faces of the Government of Catalonia in the absence of Mayor Colau) to anyone but we will work so that Barça is an engine and we will carry our values with pride. This is a club linked to the country. He knows us all over the world, and we have always been involved in the defense of rights and freedoms. We are a Catalan club and open to the world. And here all the ways of being and doing fit. I will not fail and I will try to integrate all the people who love Barça.
There was also applause for the other two candidates for the presidency, Victor Font and Toni Freixa, and the request of a united Barça to be able to find stability sportsmanship: “Stability is key. I had times as president in which I thought: how did everything turn out so well? First, because we had a generation of great players. But it also worked out well for us because we maintained stability. When we do not have stability, Barça does not work. If we are stable, it is key. Stability is the backbone. As long as the trunk is healthy, it will be fine. I appeal to the Barça fans, to those who think about what they can do for Barça, to help. And that does not mean shirking responsibility. And that is not running away from responsibilities. ” And there came the pinch to Messi: “Because I come here to command; and try to convince Messi to stay. Because Messi wants Barça. And if the field were full, you could not leave”.
Laporta he ended up sincerely excited. With the look in the sky thinking about his father: “He educated me in Barcelona, in Catalan. He was culé to the core”. “We have to be an example,” he said goodbye before the song that unites Barça fans: “Visca el Barça and Visca Catalunya”.