BARCELONA – Joan Laporta “sleeps very little, four or five hours, rarely reaches six and has an overflowing vitality”, revealed ESPN Digital a source very close to the new president of Barcelona who explained in this way his ability to cope unexpected situations, such as the one that caused the premature departure of Jaume Giró from his management team, without causing him to lose perspective on other issues that he understood to be fundamental at the beginning of his term. .
And, in parallel with resolving that economic crisis that has an influence on the club, Laporta, a passionate football fan like few others, considers it essential to support a sports project that will motivate Barça fans. How? With the biggest assets you have in the locker room. If the study of that chimerical signature of Erling Haaland will have to wait a few weeks, the opposite happens with those in the payroll and there are two names that stand out above the others: Lionel Messi and Ronald Koeman. Both have the undisguised affection of the president, both have received him publicly in his investigative speech and everyone already knows to what extent he wants them as indisputable axes of his project.
“Joan is clear about concepts and doesn’t talk to talk … Well, giving up what she told Leo in front of the whole world was a point, but she’s been meditating on the subject for a few weeks,” a direct contributor to her candidacy explained to ESPN Digital. admitting that “broadly speaking” the president has a plan to convince the Argentine star of his continuity.
Giving him the “affection” that he basically has, Laporta has already done it, alone and in the eyes of the whole world, and from there begins the moment to roll up his sleeves to turn that affection into a concrete proposal that can convince. “Messi knows the situation of the club and understands the need to reduce his salary,” said the same source, without elaborating, but clarifying that the idea of the president and, by extending his board, is to offer the captain an indefinite contract related to continuity at Barça beyond the end of his career, which is being considered for at least three or four years from now.
Post-footballer Messi could become the visible face of the club’s Foundation, which Laporta wants to give a boost to because he believes he does not have the media impact he deserves today through the image of the Argentine, as the greatest exponent in direct collaboration with he would receive.
In the short term, the most urgent thing is to convince him with a clear and concise idea at the sports level. “If Leo feels wrapped up on the field in a team with fighting options for everything, there will already be a lot of gains,” said the same source, claiming that since then, the economic aspect of the new contract would no longer be be, an insurmountable aspect.
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Messi hugged the new president of Barcelona before the proclamation ceremony.
You do not want to speculate at all on the salary reduction that should be made in that new contract. Whether it is 20, 25 or 30%, the new directive is considered feasible to start that agreement. All the more so as he is convinced that Messi, who came to vote in the elections in a clear demonstration of his identification with the club, welcomed Laporta’s victory at the polls with obvious satisfaction.
KOEMAN, NEGOTIABLE
If it is known that resolving Messi’s continuity is essential, maintaining Koeman’s “is indisputable”, according to another person in the management team. “Ronald, you already know that you trust this board of directors”, Laporta transferred to the Dutch coach during the inauguration, absolutely strengthened in the eyes of the whole world.
Koeman had warned in previous weeks that, considering it “very important” for the club to have a president, he also wanted to have things clear about who he was from that new leader and Laporta’s message could not be more conclusive.
With another season on the contract, the Dutchman’s work is much appreciated in this troubled present. Not only did he take the pulse of a closet that respected him for his clear and direct speech, for his willingness to change patterns or for strengthening his daily effort, but he also gained the environment thanks to his undisguised commitment to trusting young people, who they were personalized in Pedri, but also in Araújo, Ilaix, Dest, now the injured Ansu Fati or Riqui Puig and waiting for observers Konrad, Collado and others offer a bright future to the Barça youth team.
Understood out of context and unfeasible, a return of Pep Guardiola on the bench (the Catalan coach maintains a very good relationship with Laporta, whom he congratulated for his electoral victory), the name of Xavi Hernández is clear … Who is seen in the key more future than present.
Today and tomorrow, the Barça coach is Ronald Koeman without discussion and, as much as the new president and his management team understand that they must be aware of any incident, there is confidence that the Dutchman could be an average / technical coach. trip to the Camp Nou, after the image and resemblance to what Frank Rijkaard played in his previous stage.
MARKET
How to strengthen the team is a difficult puzzle to solve in the short term. In the summer of 2003, Laporta completely revolutionized the team, releasing up to eight contract players (Riquelme, Rochemback, Frank de Boer, Giovanni, Dani, Bonano, Enke and Christanval) and not exercising the buy option for Mendieta and Sorín. a similar scenario in 2021 is very complicated.
If there were missions then, a similar solution could now be sought, as offering low salaries, taking into account salaries, can be more difficult. Only from the outings that could be made (Neto, Samuel Umtiti, Philippe Coutinho and Junior Firpo are the first names, but not the only ones who come on the plane) it will be possible to start thinking about how and with whom to strengthen the team.
Koeman maintains its desire to incorporate Memphis Depay, which could be a concession from Laporta if this does not prevent more significant signatures. If the name of Georginio Wijnaldum loses weight and the name of David Alaba is suspected between little and nothing possible, Sergio Agüero does not have the necessary quorum, just the opposite of Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian is seen as “Ronaldinho since 2003, the name”, is recognized in the new management team, but the reality of the club is more complicated than 18 years ago, and negotiating his signing is a challenge between huge and utopian when it comes to .to an operation with figures exceeding EUR 100 million.
Impossible? “Nothing is impossible. We are Barça and together with Joan there is no such consideration,” warned another person in whom the new president had the greatest confidence. We’ll have to see him …