Former Barcelona executive announces pre-candidacy for presidential elections – ‘Laporta’s era is insane’ | OneFootball

Former FC Barcelona board member Xavi Vilajoana took a step forward on Thursday and formally announced his pre-candidacy for the presidential elections under the slogan “Ready to recover our Barça”.

The presentation took place at the Hyatt Hotel in Barcelona and marked the launch of a proposal he describes as “powerful, necessary, and focused on putting the members back at the heart of the club.”

Vilajoana explained why he decided to run for the elections by talking about his deep connections with the Blaugrana, saying:

“It’s a natural step. My father was a board member, I was a futsal player and then a board member under the last three presidents (Laporta, Rosell, and Bartomeu) with responsibilities in futsal, youth development, La Masia, and the women’s team.

“That’s 21 years linked to the club, which leaves a huge mark on you.”

The pre-candidate defined his project as the result of “knowledge, experience, and passion” for an institution that, in his view, “is not the Barça we want today.”

He was particularly critical of the current board led by Joan Laporta. “The club has become his stolen Masia. We have a man at the helm who is sailing aimlessly, without strategy or seriousness. I don’t see any of the values ​​that have made us great.”

On Laporta, Victor Font and the Club’s Current Situation

Further talking about Laporta and his management, Vilajoana did not soften his view: “Insane would be the adjective,” describing the current Barcelona president’s tenure.

He also criticised the lack of transparency about the club’s debt, saying: “The members are worried about the 4 billion. Nobody is explaining anything to them. They call and get no answer. The feeling is that the club is hiding, and there must be a reason for that.”

Asked about Victor Font’s candidacy, he stated that “alliances should be complementary”, although he stressed that his project has its own identity.

Xavi Vilajoana was critical of Laporta’s administration. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

On Lionel Messi and Barcelona relations

On a hypothetical return of Lionel Messi and how things were handled by Laporta with the Argentine’s exit, Vilajoana was blunt.

“The first person who needs to talk about Messi is Laporta. We have to ask him why he isn’t staying with us, because it wasn’t a financial issue. Messi is an asset to the club. Nobody can take ownership of a Barça legend,” he said.

Regarding the management of the return to the Spotify Camp Nou, he said he had seen a “lack of transparency” and “trivialization” of a “unique and extremely complex” project.

La Masia, “The soul of the club”

Vilajoana spoke with particular emotion about La Masia, which he called his “weakness”.

“The club’s best asset is our players. La Masia is something that should be exported. We must have the capacity to develop players for the first team and also for other markets, with international agreements in South America or Africa,” he said.

“Our Haaland isn’t at Manchester City. Our Haaland is at La Masia.”

Our Haaland is not at Manchester City. Our Haaland is in La Masia.”

The candidate also criticised cuts to investment in La Masia and presented one of his main projects, based on agreements with clubs on other continents and their youth systems to identify and develop players under Barcelona’s style and philosophy.

This programme, he said, would guarantee “ordinary income” and strengthen the sporting project.

Vilajoana closed the presentation with a message of conviction: “The soul of Barça is its people. I will give my all, not for myself, but for all the members. This is their moment. We are ready to bring our Barça back.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo