Laporta talks Messi, Lamine, Ronaldinho, Barcelona presidency, Real Madrid, Tebas | OneFootball

In an interview on La 2 Catalunya (h/t MARCA), FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke about the upcoming elections as well as discussing his first tenure and various other topics related to the club.

Laporta’s first tenure as Barça president started in 2003 and ran for seven years until 2010, coinciding with the start of the most successful period in the club’s history.

The 63-year-old returned to club presidency in 2021, and even though there have been ups and downs, he has done a solid job of steering the Blaugrana towards stability on and off the field.

As he prepares for the next presidential elections, set to take place in 2026, Laporta reminisced about his first stint as president.

Recalling the first-ever big signing he made, Laporta remarked: “The first big signing I made as president was Ronaldinho’s. We were all very excited. They’re all important, but this one was more so because he was a player who breathed new life into Barcelona.”

One of the biggest disappointments of Laporta’s current tenure has been the exit of club legend Lionel Messi and the breakdown of relations between the president and the superstar.

Discussing the situation, Laporta admitted that the entire episode made him sad, but he hoped to reconcile and pay tribute to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Messi decided to come to the Spotify Camp Nou with Pepe Costa, and when the gatekeeper saw it was Leo, they let him in. His departure? The club comes before everything. I spoke with him on his birthday, but it didn’t have greater consequences,” he said.

“As for reconciling? It is an issue that saddens me. That depends on the other party. I want to acknowledge him, because the Messi era is the most glorious in our history. He has given a lot to Barça, but Barça has also given a lot to him.”

Laporta and Messi have had a falling out. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Laporta also touched on the future of this Barcelona team, Lamine Yamal, stating:

“Lamine is the present and the future. But so are Pedri and Cubarsi. We’re building a great project for Barcelona. We can have a lot of faith in these players.”

On the club presidency, he confirmed that the upcoming elections would be the last time he would be running.

“I didn’t think I would run for president again. But we thought we could turn things around. This will be the last time I run,” said Laporta.

There have been calls for Laporta to resign in his ongoing tenure from various opposition groups, but the president made it clear that such a thought had not crossed his mind.

“Not now. I thought about resigning in the early days when my children needed security because they were being threatened. We talked to my family, but they didn’t think it was a big deal and saw me eager to continue,” he noted.

Talking about the pressure that comes with his position, Laporta stated: “They’ve said so many bad things about me. They’re lies that they repeat so many times that they seem like truths. A lot of stupid things have been said about me.”

The Barcelona chief did not shy away from firing shots at Real Madrid and their recent attacks on the club over the Negreira case.

“In Madrid, you can feel the power; at Barça, freedom. Relations with Florentino are good. They want to drag out the Negreira case like chewing gum. Now they have chronic Barcelona-itis. They spend their days talking about Negreira,” he said.

“We have explained it very well and provided evidence in court that there were reports, and no one else has provided evidence that we bribed referees, because it didn’t happen.”

Laporta also touched upon the club’s relationship with La Liga president Javier Tebas, acknowledging that they had moved on from past differences, while also defending him after being targeted by Real Madrid.

“Tebas is a man of integrity. If he gives his word, he keeps it. We can argue, but if we reach an agreement, he honours it. And that gives me great peace of mind,” said Laporta.

“Florentino’s statements against him are out of line. And he had ulterior motives because he wants to install a president in La Liga who’s loyal to him.

“He’s been trying to get Tebas to leave for a long time. That desire to oust them, combined with the social power that Real Madrid wield, makes me suspicious.”