BARCELONA – Joan Laporta was again absent on Wednesday night from a debate between the candidates for the presidency of Barcelona, in which both Víctor Font and Toni Freixa openly criticized him for what they understood as “disrespect for the Barça partner” , but regained all the media’s attention this Thursday in a press release in which, taking advantage of the presentation of his project for the sections of the club, he did not deny his interest and willingness to sign Erling Haaland and revealed that he had a discussion with Gerard Piqué after Tuesday’s dismemberment against PSG.
The former club president from 2003 to 2010 and who, according to opinion polls, is the main favorite in the March 7 election, was very careful not to say so much the name of the Norwegian striker of Borussia Dortmund, that on Wednesday he scored two goals in the victory of his team in Seville, such as that of the Catalan central defender, but when they were both put on stage, he implicitly stated that he was referring to them.
Laporta reiterated that “I maintain the will to convince Leo Messi to continue at Barça. Within our means and competing against clubs that are state-owned and can pay him much more, I will try to convince him to continue and it helps to build Barça present and future ”and from there Haaland appeared on stage.
“If the team needs an upgrade, do you have books ready to strengthen it? Can you think of a player like Haaland? She was asked. And the former president, avoiding expressly referring to the Norwegian verb, yes, agreed and assured that he was prepared, if necessary, to deal with a signature of these characteristics.
“Yes. I have all the cards ready to deal with any situation and if we have to improve the football team, I have the cards ready to play,” he said, without wanting to delve into the subject and quoting reporters for next week, when he will let him know in another appearance his sports project regarding the first team.
He also recorded the relationship he maintains with some players in the team, revealing that after Tuesday’s defeat he spoke “with a player … And I saw him very affected, down and upset”. He did not want to give his name, but it was obvious that he was referring to Gerard Piqué, whose image he used in a video with the presentation of the project for sections.
“I talked to a player after the game. He was submerged, upset, but he was the one who set an example by wanting to play from an injury. As it is, he was submerged,” he clarified.
“We can’t leave them alone and we will be with them and help them regain the winning mentality,” he proclaimed, acknowledging that, after losing to PSG, “I was also upset, with immense disappointment, thinking I just go to bed and leave. As the hours go by … But the message is very clear: we must be with our players. “
“We have to transfer all our support to the team right now and not get into apocalyptic scenarios yet. I don’t like to advance events: in the Cup against Sevilla there is a return match and in the Liga Atlético yesterday they left two points. to support the team “, solved Laporta, who in the case of the Champions revealed himself against the collapse.
“We will go to Paris very calmly. Barça is a team that knows how to win, but that knows how to be defeated, keeping its dignity,” he began, stressing … To later draw a point of rebellion: “We should, of course, If we have already done it with PSG, it can be done again, even more difficult this time away from home. Let’s not forget that Barça is a club with epic moments from its history that led us to glory ”.