The president of FC Barcelona reviewed the situation of the club after the transfer market closed at a press conference held at the Auditori 1899 in which he made it clear that “if we had wanted to we would have reached the 1:1 ratio”, by signing a new kit contract with Nike, a firm that, According to what Laporta saidwould not have been signed at this time under the conditions that most interested Barcelona, so the club opted to extend the negotiations. The Barcelona president insisted that “the club is better economically, socially, institutionally and sportingly than in 2021. The destabilisers will have to work hard to shake an institution that will celebrate its 125th anniversary.” He praised both Flick and Deco, whose work he highlighted above all in the last week of the transfer market. He did not refer to Nico Williams “because I do not talk about players who are not ours out of respect for their clubs” and considered very satisfactory the signings of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.
Laporta stressed that “The sports equipment company gave the 1:1 and allowed registration without any problem, but the sporting ‘tempo’ does not always coincide with the economic ‘tempo’. We consider that It was neither necessary nor convenient and that there were other solutions to register players: one was the work of Deco, saving with losses and loaning of players.” He pointed out that “we could have solved it (the 1:1) by signing that contract, but I think that we would have rushedor because it would harm the interests of Barcelona. That’s what we’re doing and I can announce that It will be the best contract in the world of football of sports equipment”.
About the ways to achieve 1:1specified that “if it had been necessary we would have prepared a personal endorsement from colleagues of the board, as we did last year. It was not necessary, because We found other solutions“. He also made it clear that “If players have to be registered in December “It will be done, because we will have reached a 1:1 relationship sooner.” He added, regarding the contract with Nike, that “it is in the process of being negotiated, there is enough to write a book about it, it has not been easy. I would like to give details, but I am bound by a confidentiality agreement.”
60 MILLION FROM 1:1
He put a figure on What the Barcelona club lacks to get to that 1:1 ratio for signing up players: “We are at 60 million. We can get it by several routes during the month of September: personal endorsement, finishing fixing Barça Vision… what is certain is that we could not reach 1:1 without Deco’s work.” He also explained what impact has had the agreement with Aramark for Barça Vision in the ‘fair play’: “Aramark’s impact on Barça Vision is 15 million. There were 25, but LaLiga has counted 15“. He explained about Barça Vision that “we have a business plan and a shareholding. The audiovisual technology businesses, including our platform, can bring in a lot of income. And what we are doing now is providing it with a budget, with expert personnel in all the business lines of Barça Vision, and trying to compensate for Libero’s non-payment. This season we will begin to see results, because the business plan is very elaborate.” He made it clear that “with the new kit contract, with the difference in relation to what we were earning and the new figure, we would already be in the 1:1 relationship.”
In the line of what was expressed before the summer Regarding the possibility of making signings, he believes that “I don’t think that there has been an excess of optimism sold. I like to create illusions and sometimes we are happy and sometimes we think that we have to keep working. We have not reached 1:1 because we have not wanted to,” he insisted. And he added that “I can shoot optimism with much more power and I’m holding back“, despite some criticism that it has been selling smoke.
Thus, he was blunt: “In December we hope to have the 1:1. For Dani Olmo’s registration, we have taken advantage of this solution (Christensen’s absence), which by the way was worked on a lot and well by our doctors in the last week of registrations, with clear and conclusive medical reports. The medical committee recognized Christensen’s long-term injury to the Achilles tendon.” And He denied that footballers do not want to come to Barça due to financial problems: “All imaginable players want to come to Barça. I don’t want to go into details, but there are many players who want to come, because they know that we are on the way to completing the economic recovery.”
Was Very complimentary of Flick and Deco: “We are very happy with the coach we have, who speaks clearly and directly, and with the squad. We are especially proud of La Masia, because La Masia has an impact on the squad that demonstrates what we said during the campaign: we look at La Masia, and if we don’t find anything, we go to the market. It is the essence of the club.” Regarding the demands on the coach, he did not set a specific bar: “We demand work from Flickprofessionalism, living day to day with intensity and being a coach that we like. He is a man who does not look for excuses, demanding. There is nothing concrete in terms of titles, something else is what we want, which is the same as what he wants.” And He assumed the decision of the relief On the bench: “Xavi was a club decision. Last season did not go well enough, the decision is exclusively up to the board of directors and myself. There is a gratitudebut we thought that this push had to be made and we think that Hansi Flick has the necessary circumstances.”
With Deco was especially explicit In his praise: “Together with Alexanco and the scouting team, he is the architect of our having Hans Flick, the architect of the renewal of players who came from La Masia and who needed to be updated, such as Lamine Yamal or Cubarsí… the good understanding between Deco and Alexanco has led us to achieve this.” He stated that “the work of the offices has been decisive in being able to register. Deco is the architect of the signing of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. The incorporation of Dani Olmo “It was very well negotiated.” And he assured that “it was Deco’s top priority.”
He added that “Deco is also the architect of the incorporation of new physical trainersWith Deco, the payroll of the squad has been reduced and the quality of the squad has been improved. It has a higher market value and its average age has been reduced. And the maxim of looking at La Masia first and if we don’t find what we need, we go to the market has been applied. Deco transmits serenity to usknowledge of the world of football, in all its areas. He has been a player, a coach, an agent… He has a knowledge of football that gives us peace of mind. In addition, he is patient.”
AND He denied that he feared for his continuity“I feared for his health, there is a lot of stress, but at no time have I feared for his continuity at the club, he is very happy.”
He stated, among other things, that Gündogan’s decision “was a sporting decision”although there were later financial advantages” and revealed that “Lewandowski has offered to help with his contract” given the club’s difficulties.
