Laporta reflects on his term ahead of Barcelona presidential elections: ‘We had to act boldly and quickly’

Barcelona, 15 March — As FC Barcelona members head to the polls today to elect their next president, outgoing chief Joan Laporta has delivered a sweeping defence of his tenure, insisting that bold, rapid decisions were required to rescue the club from “an extremely difficult situation” and return it to what he calls “a very sweet moment in our history.”

Speaking to club media on the eve of his mandatory resignation to stand for re-election, the 63-year-old portrayed his four-and-a-half-year spell as a triumph of crisis management. “The overall assessment is positive,” Laporta said. “We’ve worked collectively to bring joy back to the Barça faithful. The institution is strong, and the team is captivating.”

Central to his narrative is the Spotify Camp Nou project, the partially-completed renovation that forced the squad into a season-long exile at Montjuïc. “It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made, and now it’s time to finish it,” he argued, pointing to the return of supporters and record sponsorship revenues as proof of life in the new stadium.

Economic rescue

Laporta’s harshest criticism was reserved for the financial inheritance he says the previous board left behind. “We faced an economic, sporting and institutional crisis,” he recalled. “The wage bill was 98% of ordinary income; debt required renegotiation; liquidity was almost non-existent.”

The president cited the activation of so-called “financial levers,” the renegotiation of club debt and a new long-term apparel deal with Nike as pivotal moves that reduced the wage ratio to 54%. He praised sporting director Deco for “fundamentally” engineering the salary reduction “without losing competitive edge,” adding that the squad’s market value and average age have both moved in favourable directions.

Governance and identity

Beyond spreadsheets, Laporta portrayed himself as the guardian of Barça’s identity. He defended the decision to spurn higher offers from alternative sponsors in favour of Spotify, saying the American audio giant “fit the club’s identity,” and underlined the importance of La Masia as “a cornerstone” of future policy.

The hiring of Hansi Flick was cited as the sporting bet of which he is proudest, alongside “betting on homegrown talent alongside others from abroad.” Laporta also pledged to consolidate a unique governance model that includes budgetary stability for sections beyond football, notably basketball, which he believes is “on the right track” under new coach Xavi Pascual.

Relations and regrets

After years of friction, Laporta reported a thaw in relations with both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, attributing the improvement to “dialogue” and Barça’s willingness to help interpret league regulations.

Asked whether he regretted any choices, the president admitted that “decisions that affected people” — dismissing a coach or not renewing a player — weighed on him, but he insisted: “Above all else comes Barça. In such a difficult situation, the mistake would have been not to make any decisions.”

Road ahead

Looking toward election day, Laporta struck an energetic tone. “I’m facing the elections with a strong spirit and a desire to explain the work we’ve done and how we’ll complete it if we win,” he said, listing Espai Barça’s final phase, full economic consolidation and continued international growth as unfinished business.

“We had to act boldly and quickly to avoid collapse,” he concluded. “There’s so much left to do, and I want to explain it.”

Whether members credit him for steadying the ship or seek a new direction will be determined when voting closes tonight.