Laporta leads Barcelona at ECA summit as Pérez sends trusted envoy | OneFootball

Joan Laporta led Barcelona at the European Club Association’s annual general meeting in Copenhagen, while Florentino Pérez sent close aide Anas Laghrari, underscoring shifting alliances.

Chaired by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the ECA met after expanding its membership to 850 clubs, with Racing Santander joining alongside Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Villarreal. Madrid CFF were allocated a seat. Marca states that Real Madrid were given no seat despite Laghrari’s presence in the hall.

Barcelona’s official participation as a full member, with Laporta front and centre, was the standout development. It comes as Real Madrid have returned to the fold after agreeing with UEFA and withdrawing from the European Super League project. Even so, their position within the ECA still differs from other Spanish clubs.

A French banker of Moroccan origin specialising in financial operations, Laghrari is among Pérez’s closest advisers. With the president absent, he represented Madrid at a gathering of Europe’s key decision makers. His long relationship with Pérez, dating back to childhood, spans work at ACS and Real Madrid.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and secretary general Giorgio Marchetti attended alongside senior club executives. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, present in Rome last year, skipped Copenhagen and deputised via secretary general Mattias Grafström. His absence came amid ongoing controversy over several proposals, including a plan to privatise the World Cup.

Source: Goal.com

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