How Barcelona signed Rafa Márquez at a great price

by

Joan Laporta, candidate for the presidency of Barcelona, ​​recalled the absurd price they paid for Rafael Márquez

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals how former Mexican footballer Rafael Márquez was hired, which was not one of the club’s goals, but its price made it a very attractive option.

In the statements made to the channel YouTube “Iniestazo”, Laporta, who is currently seeking a second term in charge of Barcelona, ​​said that when he took over the reins of the culé team in 2003, they were analyzing Roberto Ayala’s signature, but a proposal by Jorge Mendes changed everything. .

“The agent was Jorge Mendes and we had just won the election and some of us were having a meal. We were planning the season and they were trying to sell us to the triple A, Ayala, Albelda and Aimar, and Ayala was 30 years old, had important experience and trajectory. it cost money, “the manager explained.

“And this agent (Jorge) comes and congratulates the president, I have an extraordinary central defender for Barça, Rafa Márquez, and I replied that I know him, he is very good. Jorge tells us “If I bring him for five million (euros) to Barça, will they sign him?” I thought it was very difficult for him to bring it for five million, but I shook his hand and if he brings it for five million, we have to sign it because the president of Barcelona has only one word and his word is law. ” he said.

After the first meeting, Jorge Mendes returned to Barcelona with “Kaiser” and a letter from Monaco willing to sell Márquez for five million euros. Four years earlier, the Ligue 1 team had paid Atlas 4.5 million, so Laporta immediately accepted the offer.

“Two weeks pass and the secretary at the reception tells me that she is bringing a boy and says that she has a date with you, however, I did not meet anyone, but she told me that there is someone who came from Monaco and then I I started tying the story. (Jorge) came and said to me: “President, here I have the letter from Monaco that I am selling Rafa Márquez for five million euros” and the negotiations with the others were stopped and I signed Márquez “, he said he.

Rafael Márquez spent seven years in Barcelona and became one of the most important players of the Catalan team at that time.. The Mexican has won four LaLiga titles, two Champions Leagues, the Club World Cup, among other titles.

Through his official Twitter account, Márquez joked about the little money Barcelona paid for his services.

.Source