Laporta’s board: The latest appointments within the Barcelona management

With the arrival of Joan Laporta’s positive management preceded by the end of Bartomeu’s reign, Culés are hoping that the Barcelona board will be filled with members and directors who are capable of doing their jobs.

The Spanish lawyer who is serving his second tenure as Barça’s president has been appointing several new members in his board, while also being linked to other great, capable people. This article will discuss four such people: Jaume Guardiola, Ferran López, Francesc Arnau, and the renewal of Ramon Planes. 

Jaume Guardiola

Sport reports that Joan Laporta will be appointing Jaume Guardiola as the new president of Barça’s statutory economic commission. In an effort to restructure the club’s debts and finances, Guardiola – who is the CEO of Banc Sabadell – will be resolving financial and economic issues with full transparency, as the previous board did not display such a level of openness while indebting the club.

Guardiola’s main job is to ensure that the internal audits of the club are carried out thoroughly. Furthermore, he will present the annual accounts of the club to the delegates. In case the current board is to resign, Guardiola would preside over a management committee that would oversee the next election, much like the job of Carles Tusquets last season. It is noteworthy that Banc Sabadell was one of the institutions that contributed to a part of the €124m which Laporta’s board had to present to the club in order to take over. 

Ferran López

Next, Laporta has officially signed Ferran López as Barça’s new security manager. According to La Vanguardia, the club has signed López – who was previously commissioner of the Mossos d’Esquadra – as the club’s new head of security. The former police officer – who served in the force for over 27 years – held a meeting with Laporta and Ferran Reverter recently. He had expressed his utmost dedication to the club and Laporta’s project, eager to join on. Apparently, López will enjoy far more power and responsibilities than his predecessor. 

Francesc Arnau

According to the Tiempo Anadido show, Laporta may appoint Oviedo sporting director Francesc Arnau as technical director of the club. The former Barça goalkeeper would likely replace Ramon Planes unless appointed in a different capacity. The Catalan is currently in a contract with Oviedo, and had also served as Malaga’s technical secretary between 2015 and 2018.

It is also reported that Mateu Alemany – Barça’s new director of football – is fond of the former Barça and Malaga player. Having come through La Masia, Arnau is familiar with Barcelona and its functioning. He could serve well as the club’s technical director. 

Ramon Planes

While reports claim that Arnau may be appointed as the club’s new technical secretary, Gerard Romero reports that Laporta and Alemany are fond of Ramon Planes’ work and are willing to offer him a two-year contract extension.

Planes was key in the signings of both Pedri and Araujo, and has generally looked after the best interest of the club. He has done spectacularly in his job so far, and removing him in favour of someone else may not be the right move.

According to OnzeTV3, both Alemany and Laporta are absolutely satisfied with Planes’ work and are more than willing to keep him on board as the club’s technical secretary. Further, it is said that Alemany enjoys a fantastic relationship with Planes. 

The start of a new era

It is extremely refreshing for most Culés to hear the positive news of well experienced and people of expertise will be guiding this club going into the future. Laporta and his board only care for the best interest of the club, and the appointment of such specialists will only help to harness Barça’s full sporting and financial potential.

Years of mismanagement under Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu will take a long time to rectify. Nonetheless, Laporta – and whomsoever he trusts – will lead this club in the right direction; of that, we can be sure.