Fire in overtime

The electoral campaign for the presidency of Barcelona heats up because of an issue that in any other context would be a minor issue, but when the skin is burned, any friction provokes unforeseen reactions. With nerves on the surface after the postponement of the election day, scheduled for January 24 and to be held on March 7, hostilities between candidates have been unleashed and, what is even more unusual, have clearly confronted the president of the manager, Carlos Tusquets, with Joan Laporta, the candidate who, according to the polls, has been harmed the most by the postponement. The campaign lives an extra time that threatens to test the delicate institutional situation of the entity.

The drop that triggered the storm is the possibility of signing Eric García in the winter market. No one would have imagined that the issue that would break hostilities in the presidential race was the possible incorporation of a 20-year-old player, either now or in the summer. This controversy is a perfect example to explain the state of a weakened club at all levels in which any draft can cause pneumonia.

Carles Tusquets has had a request from Ronald Koeman to reinforce the team for weeks. One of the positions to settle is that of central before the state of Umtiti and the injury of Piqué. Eric García, a Barça youth squad who plays for City and who ends his contract on June 30, is the great goal of the technical secretariat. Faced with this request, Tusquets has met twice with the candidates to ask for their blessing to undertake the operation under the premise that it will only be carried out by consensus of the three.

Faced with the dilemma, the positions are divergent. Víctor Font wants to bring him now because he assured that he has reached an agreement with the English club through which the footballer would arrive “for three fixed million plus variable, which would not be paid now but next season, so in the accounts of this season It would only cost 230,000 euros in amortizations, in addition the player's salary would also be postponed until next season, the player is crazy to come and accepts it too. “

Absolutely opposed to this measure is Joan Laporta. The former president flatly refuses this payment. “I remain in the position that I had when it was raised in the Management Board. We, as candidates, cannot attribute any power to the Manager. If a player wants to come to Barça, he has to prove it. And when it comes to an operation that it would be done for free, I find it difficult to understand the reasons why I had to give the money to a competitor of ours (Manchester City). In the end, it is paying money that we would not have to pay in June. The Manager cannot make an act of disposition, it must wait for a new president, “Laporta said in an electoral act.

But in addition to disqualifying this operation, which is the first issue that confronts Font openly, Laporta in his statements opened another front criticizing the Manager of the club, to which he dedicated very harsh words: “the Manager You are not someone to negotiate with the player nor should you negotiate a salary. And more taking into account the economic situation in which the entity is. I should wait for there to be a president. “

Against all odds, Tusquets from the Manager who assumes that he must keep a role of institutional neutrality, broke the deck at leaking a very aggressive letter regarding the attitude of the former president, whom he accused of threatening him.

“I beg you to refrain from threatening this Management Committee in the search for decisions that you consider may suit you under the guise of being necessary for the club (…) If we do not finally sign the contract, it will not be because of their unfair and inconsiderate threats, but rather as a show of responsibility and elegance, allowing the elected president to make the pertinent decision (…) whoever subscribes to this (Tusquets) considers that, thinking strictly in football terms, the most successful thing would have been to sign this player“says Tusquets who ends his writing with a very harsh message:”He would have to put the interests of FC Barcelona before his electoral interests “.

In the background it remains Toni Freixa, who in principle was in favor of closing the signing to join the next campaign.

The elections should have been held last Sunday when Laporta looked like he was going to win, but the extension can change many things. What until now was a white collar campaign has caught fire in extra time. And there is still more than a month left for the vote.