Joan Laporta, elected as Barcelona’s president with an emphatic majority on Sunday night, came to his coronation with ready-made symbols.
He and his allies wore orange face-masks, in tribute to the late Johan Cruyff, of the Netherlands and, for so many years, inspirational player and coach of Barca.
Laporta had his diary a notable anniversary, too. “Twenty years ago, there was a kid who made his debut for the Barcelona boys B team,” noted Laporta in his victory speech, having won almost 55 per cent of the 55,000 votes cast by the club’s member supporters.
That boy was Lionel Messi, now 33, who had turned up at Camp Nou earlier in the day to cast his vote in the secret ballot, accompanied by his son Thiago.
“To me, seeing Leo come and vote proves what we have been saying throughout this campaign – that Leo loves Barcelona,” smiled Laporta. “The best player in the world loves Barcelona. We hope that helps with the decisions that have to be made in the future.”
The big Messi decision had dominated the lead-up to the elections and the long hiatus since the previous president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, stood down in October.
Messi’s current contract with the club where he has spent his entire career expires in June, and the gesture of his voting – as registered ‘socios’, or members, all Barcelona players are entitled to but not all do – will be widely interpreted as a show of his affection for Barcelona.
Laporta revealed he had received a congratulation message from the captain. “I think he wants to stay,” said the new boss.
Messi, hostile to Bartomeu, tried to leave last summer. If he wants to again, he knows he can count on many suitors at clubs in better health than Barca.
But he will listen intently to the persuasions of Laporta. The new president had cited his close relationship with Messi in his campaign. “If another candidate wins, Messi will certainly leave,” Laporta had forecast. Around the Camp Nou stadium, the main polling station, on Sunday some fans had chanted ‘Messi, Stay!”
The player himself has said only he will make a decision at the end of this season, a season which began in open confrontation with Bartomeu. The now ex-president, citing the €700 million buyout clause in Messi’s huge contract, blocked Messi leaving. That was one of his last executive acts. Bartomeu was gone in a matter of weeks.
Laporta will bring charisma and a long list of past glories to the role. He knows Messi well because he served as president when Messi rose from the club’s academy to the first team.
Laporta’s first mandate, between 2003 and 2010 turned out to be a golden era, with two Champions League titles, twice as many as the club had ever won before, and some bold choices, notably the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager when Guardiola had no senior experience as a coach.
Granting Laporta his second stint, Barcelona fans voted emphatically for more of that Midas touch, for his clear association with the admired Cruyff, whose ideas about how football should be played have become so influential at Barcelona, and for his bond with Messi.
But the challenges are huge. “The first thing we must do is a thorough audit,” said Laporta yesterday before heading off to talk to the players and manager Ronaldo Koeman at the club’s training ground.
Barcelona have an overall debt of close to €1.2 billion, and although they last year recorded the highest revenues of any football club, that income has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis. Fans have been restricted from entry into the 98,000 capacity Camp Nou for almost a year.
On the field, standards have fallen. In 2019-2020, Barcelona finished without a trophy last season for the first time in 12 seasons. Their best hope of silverware in Laporta's first few months is the Copa del Rey, whose final they reached thanks to last week's stirring comeback in the semi, from 2-0 down to Sevilla after 90 minutes, to 3-2 winners in extra time of the second leg. That was well timed for Koeman: No would-be new president was likely to speak of possible new managers after that display.
In la Liga, Barcelona are second, trailing Atletico Madrid, who could go six points clear on Wednesday, the same night Barcelona are in France, likely to confirm their elimination from the Champions League. They are 4-1 behind after the first leg of their last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
It means Laporta’s first night back in the front seat of a VIP section, will be in Paris, and a stark reminder of how times have changed. Back in 2006, he watched his Barcelona win a European Cup in the French capital. In the same city, he must see them confront the PSG juggernaut already three goals down, the clear underdogs.
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Barca 1 PSG 4: player ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 - Kept busier than in recent domestic games but stranded by Mbappe’s magnificence for the visitors’ opening goal. Another fine save from Mbappe on 46 minutes but beaten twice again in the second half and Kean’s header went through his hands. Overwhelmed, like his team. Getty -
Sergino Dest, 4 - The young American will never forget the night he tried to contain Mbappe – a near impossible task and Pique tried to talk him through with little success as he was found out of position. Looked a little nervous and did his best, but it’d be easier to make a house out of jelly. EPA -
Gerard Pique, 5 - Surprise call up having been out since November, but with Aruajo out, needs must and Pique’s experience was called on. Sidestepped by Mbappe for the first PSG goal. Which defender wouldn’t have been? Blocked a Verrati shot with his head and heeled a Florenzi cross away from goal – towards Mbappe who scored the second. The defining image of the game is him trying – and failing – to stop Mbappe. AFP -
Clement Lenglet, 5 - Not the certain starter he was a year ago, but Koeman went for his experience against his compatriots. Involved, but not always in a good way and looked all over the place as PSG asserted their superiority. Reuters -
Jordi Alba, 6 - Left looking where the ball was when former Barça player Icardi headed a corner just wide at the end of an excellent first half. In the second, Alba’s pass was handled and it looked like it should have been a penalty. AFP -
Frenkie de Jong, 6 - Won a 26th minute penalty after tripping. And that was just about his highlight. Cut a forlorn figure after as he explained how his side had been outclassed. Getty -
Sergio Busquets, 6 - A cerebral and hugely successful footballer, but struggled against PSG’s fleet-heeled forwards. And midfielders as they attacked in waves with devastating speed and precision. Normally has over 100 touches per games – had just 58 in 77 minutes. EPA -
Pedri, 6 - New signing and a revelation this season, the teen put Griezmann towards goal on 13 minutes. Stopped an 18th minute Mbappe effort going in on the line. Tough first half for him against Gueye, who fouled him (and several other Barca players) and was booked on 20 minutes. An experience for him to play a game of such a high level. AFP -
Lionel Messi, 7 - Looked on it at the start. One-two with Griezmann early on, came deep to try and get more involved, smashed a 26th minute left foot penalty centrally past Navas. Used to outclassing teams, it was his time to be outclassed as Barça were humiliated in the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season. Reuters -
Antoine Griezmann, 6 - A 13th minute shot well saved by Navas. Ran from his own half with the ball and chased by three players after 36 minutes to shoot past Navas – but just wide. AFP -
Ousmane Dembele, 5 - Feeble 28th minute shot should have made it 2-0, but the ball trickled towards Navas. Exciting when he got the ball on the right, but PSG’s defence were so well organised to blunt him. A poor showing against his compatriots. EPA -
SUBS: Oscar Mingueza, N/A - On for Dest 72. Had to stop the unplayable Mbappe, but how to stop a player who is unplayable? You can’t. AFP -
Trincao, N/A - On for Piqie on 78. He’s been in form lately and scoring goals but had little impact. Reuters -
Riqui Puig, N/A - On for Pedri on 78. Looked a boy among men. AFP -
Miralem Pjanic, N/A - On for Busquets on 78. Wanted more minutes in Koeman’s side. Didn’t want them when his side were already beaten. AP -
Martin Braithwaite, N/A - On for Griezmann on 85. Like trying to put a large fire out with a small cup of water. The damage was done and Pjanic had to urge him to get the ball quicker for a corner. EPA -
PSG RATINGS: Keylor Navas, 5 – The former Real Madrid goalkeeper could do little to stop Lionel Messi’s penalty, but was very lucky not to be punished when he tried to outwit Antoine Griezmann with a disastrous chipped clearance which almost ended up in the back of the net. AP -
Alessandro Florenzi, 7 – After a cagey first half he was excellent in the second and he produced a vital clearance on the slide with the hosts piling on the pressure, before charging forward to supply the cross which allowed Kylian Mbappe to rifle in his second. Getty -
Marquinhos, 6 – Like Florenzi, he will have been relieved to see the Griezmann chance go begging when he was uncertain as to whether he should close down the forward or track the runner, but asides from that it was a steady night’s work for the Brazilian. AFP -
Presnel Kimpembe, 7 - Another big performance at the back from Kimpembe, who produced a crucial block to deny Ousmane Dembele early in the contest before reacting quickest to snuff out Sergio Busquets’ ball over the top for Messi. AFP -
Layvin Kurzawa, 7 - Guilty of tripping De Jong in the box as Messi made no mistake from 12 yards, but he responded perfectly when his cross was flicked into the path of Mbappe who hammered in the leveller before ter Stegen’s fingertips denied him a huge goal. AFP -
Leandro Paredes, 7 – A story of set pieces. A lethargic first half was epitomised by a couple of poor deliveries, but when it really mattered he put a precise free-kick on a plate for Kean to steer the visitors into a 3-1 lead having earlier unleashed Florenzi to set up Mbappe’s second of the night. Reuters -
Idrissa Gueye, 5 - For a split-second it looked like Barcelona were in trouble when he lined one up from distance only for his strike to bend comfortably wide. He was booked for hauling down Pedri and seemed determined to get sent off until his withdrawal at the break. AFP -
MF Moise Kean, 8 – How Everton fans will be wishing they’d seen a bit more of this. The winger forced a corner after ghosting between two defenders with frightening acceleration before he was twice denied by smart saves from ter Stegen, but he popped up at the back post to nod the French side into dreamland. AFP -
Marco Verratti, 8 - PSG’s most influential player inside the opening 45 minutes as the Italian pulled the strings in the middle and set up Mbappe with a lovely calculated flick. He was equally effective at the other end, thwarting Griezmann with a glorious tackle. AFP -
Kylian Mbappe, 10 - An exceptional talent, a remarkable hat-trick. The sensational forward showed brilliant feet to shift the ball away from Clement Lenglet and onto his left foot before smashing PSG level. He was on hand again to hammer Les Parisiens in front and he capped an electric evening with a fine strike into the top corner. AFP -
Mauro Icardi, 6 - Wasted one of the chances of the night when his tame strike was hooked away to safety by Pedri with the goal gaping and he showed a similar lack of conviction after the break when he opted to flick the ball to Kean when it was begging to be hit. AFP -
SUBS: Ander Herrera, 6 - Replaced the less than subtle Idrissa Gueye at the interval as Maurico Pochettino exercised caution and he almost sent Mbappe away again with a lifted ball over the top. AP -
Thilo Kehrer, N/A - Thrown into the mix in place of Alessandro Florenzi as the visitors saw off a late Barca rally. AFP -
Julian Draxler, N/A - Replaced Marco Verratti in the 72nd minute and put the icing on the cake when he showed excellent close control before laying the ball off for Mbappe to complete a brilliant hat-trick. AFP -
DF Danilo Pereira, N/A - Replaced the impressive Moise Kean. The idea was probably to preserve the lead the visitors already had rather than extending it, but Mbappe had other ideas. AFP
