On March 9th, Laporta and Font had their debate for running Barca's president. Several topics are covered: Messi's leaving, the club's economic recovery, the transfers, etc. This is the first part of the debate.
On Messi, Xavi and Koeman:
Laporta:"They are the three hardest decisions I have ever made. Messi, Koeman and Xavi. I have done it putting Barça's interests first. I had two as players and they are decisions that one has to make. They are legends of Barça. Barça can't get along with a computer, it's a feeling. Barça is above players, presidents."
Font:"Messi and Xavi feel deceived and it's not acceptable not to tell the truth. Barça issued a statement to announce an agreement with a world leader in connectivity services that no one knows about: New Era Visionary Group. This was the company that Barça announced and how can it be that they have never done anything about connectivity. A Barça Mobile was announced that does not exist."
On Messi's legacy at Barca:
Laporta: "The thing about Messi is that we want to make him a statue and a tribute match when the pitch is finished. The sporting project will be with Flick on the bench and Deco in the offices, with a competitive team. This is working and I hope it continues. If Font comes, he is the great danger. He said that he would remove Deco and that the work will be between three. Flick has already said that he would not be comfortable without me. Xavi says in the interview the reasons why I fired him. He relaxed and could not combine his professional career with his personal life. He said Barca would not be as competitive as with Madrid. He asked to change players and I told him that I could not continue. Important players that he did not see. Xavi was dissatisfied with the squad and with the referees. He said that the squad was not competitive. It was something recurring. With Messi it was like this: when he could not be renewed, due to economic issues, in 2023 he told me that Messi wanted to return and I sent the contract to Jorge Messi, who then came to my house and told me that I would have too much pressure here."
Font:"It's a matter of credibility. Messi also thinks the same as what Xavi has said. Do we listen to a president with a history of lies? Leo will tell it one day. To have broken relations for personal interests with the best in history and to try to strengthen ties with a statue and a tribute is regrettable. The wound that we Barça have of not having the best in history, would make Barça much bigger. The former president said that only Messi would stay with him and the only person who did not have a plan was the former president. Barça is not a president, it has 150,000 members. When Messi cried, we all cried. Breaking relations with Messi and going hand in hand with Florentino make us culers want a change. The former president is handing out cards of good and bad Barça fans".
rahmsey
22
can Messi and Xavi alone be the player and coach on the pitch. with them what did Barca win and without them look at the Barca cabinet is increasing with trophies. best decision from the best president at the right moment.
Charlesborn
10
I will always stand with you laporta, The issue of Lionel Messi will always be painful because of his contribution and dazzlings in our shirt....and we appreciate and will always have him in our heart...The Greatest of All Time. But your decision was the best for Barcelona at that time ....we would have been in mess by now...our Academy would have even been closed down Cox we really saw our decline before your coming back. On the Elections. Font don't have a concrete basis for his challenge, can't continue raising the issue of Messi and Xavi to fool people into voting him. let's come out of the mess Barthomeou led us into first. But on a general note, FUTBOL CLUB BARCELONA needs to learn how to treat their legends right, especially those with no to ties to Spanish Nationalism