The culé president admits that “there is no rush” to renew Xavi since “first there are other priorities”
MADRID, 30 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, stated this Thursday that those who work “daily” at the Blaugrana club can “assure” that the economic situation is “much better than two years ago” and that in this sense it is “improving at a constant speed and higher than expected”, thus discrediting the words of Víctor Font.
In the Esport3 program ‘Onze’, Laporta listened to the criticism of Font, a former presidential candidate. “It is not true, I respect all the opinions, and here everyone can say theirs. But those of us who are at the club every day, those of us who work daily at the club, what we can ensure, and I assure it and I say it with all the forcefulness, is that we are much better than two years ago”, said the president culé.
“In all areas, at an economic level, at a sporting level, at a social level, at an institutional level, at the level of what it means to start a project that forms part of the club’s Viability Plan and that represents a collective dream of Barcelona fans, as It is the Espai Barça, we are much better than two years ago. I can respect the opinion of Barcelona fans who say otherwise, but unfortunately I have to say that it is not true”, insisted Laporta.
He added that its Board of Directors is “on the right track” in cleaning up the accounts and that it is “improving at a constant speed and higher than expected.” “Some thought that by voting for me what we would do would be just getting by, but I think that people voted for me because they know me. We are not one of those who go by, those who are with me and I myself are one of those who do, ” argument.
“We have been active, making decisions, working, working and working well, and that is why we are on the right track. And this can be applied to economic matters. We have restructured the short-term debt we had, which we could not pay and which represented the bankruptcy of the club, and we have spent it in the long term; also, at a better price, at a much lower interest rate than we had”, he explained.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about the sports issue. This season, with a two-year deadline, we’re back there. We’ve once again won an important league, like the Spanish one. Also, with all the professional teams we’ve won the League We want more, yes, but what is being done is important. Institutionally, we once again have the specific weight that Barça should have in the world”, he declared.
“We are facing all these disruptive projects, such as the Super League, but at the same time we are maintaining or resuming the good relationship with the institutions. Without going any further, we have a good relationship with LaLiga, we have resumed relations. With UEFA, although we are in the Super League, because there is dialogue. And I think that is important because Barça is a club that can help a lot to dialogue in the world of football, as this world is going now”, he declared.
Laporta was confident despite the rumors of exclusion from European competitions. “We contemplate playing the Champions League. I have had personal meetings with Aleksander Ceferin. I think he understood the explanations we gave him. Also, we cannot be sentenced before judging us, and apart from that, I already explained the entire background of the ‘Negreira case’ and I think he understood it perfectly,” he repeated.
In this context, the top Barça leader reiterated that if Ceferin made that decision “it would be to condemn us rather than judge us”. “And I don’t think UEFA will do this, because we also have the ability to appeal and go to the last consequences defending our interests.”
“This is an unprecedented smear campaign against the reputation of Barça. And it is also unfair because there is no type of arbitration corruption. And with these campaigns what is intended is, perhaps the word is ‘dominate’, Barça”, He gave his opinion on a ‘Negreira case’ that in his opinion came “from certain institutions that, at that time, were precisely from the LaLiga environment.
Laporta also pointed to the “environment of funds that did not manage to get Barça to link up with them”, alluding to the CVC company, and to the “environment of companies that did not obtain the award of the ‘Can Barça’ works”, alluding to the profound remodeling of the Camp Nou. In addition, he commented that the Prosecutor’s Office “has rushed” with this issue.
“We respect the principle of legality and we will collaborate with the Justice in whatever is necessary for it to be found out. We are the first interested in the investigation, in finding out all the facts that have as a consequence or are a consequence of this whole case” , indicated about the ‘Negreira case’, still kicking.
Meanwhile, he recalled that “the priority objective this season was the League for the first men’s soccer team.” It has been done with authority, it has been done well. Then we have achieved something historic with six Leagues from six professional teams. What stood out from the women’s, above all, was the Champions League, which also made a historic comeback. And that’s fine, but we want more,” she predicted.
ON RENEWING XAVI: “THERE IS NO RUSH BECAUSE FIRST THERE ARE OTHER PRIORITIES”
“Xavi has a contract, he knows that for us he is the best coach for Barça and that we are very happy with him. In addition, he knows the club perfectly, respects the entity and helps a lot to work as we are working. And in due course we will talk about his continuity. There is no rush because first there are other priorities,” added Laporta.
The Blaugrana president reported the Viability Plan approved by LaLiga to register players. “We are at this stage, Xavi understands it perfectly and we have called ahead to talk calmly because he knows that we love him and we know that he wants to continue, which makes us very happy because he is a great coach and a great person,” he added.
In the same way, he valued the recent signing of Ilkay Gundogan. “The culés fill us with pride that a player has preferred to go to what for him is a great club, which has history, has prestige and has all this. He has put us ahead of City’s money, let’s say. Because they made him a higher offer in terms of money, but I think that we have worked very well here, Mateu Alemany has worked magnificently again and Xavi has also given the player the necessary confidence”, pointed out the German midfielder.
Finally, Laporta denied that everyone is transferable in this summer market. “Last year it already happened and we were worse than this year. Last year we were saved by the levers that were made. But we had an offer for De Jong for 100 million and I think we did well not selling it”, he recalled about the possibility that the Dutch midfielder will leave ‘Can Barça’.
“There are players who are part of our style of play, who represent ours and are also essential for this team to be increasingly competitive and continue to progress. And in that sense, I think there are players like those who form the backbone of the team that we don’t have them on the market”, concluded Laporta.