Joan Laporta talks Messi, Barcelona identity, season objectives, and Saudi Arabia

Joan Laporta was elected the 42nd president of Barcelona in 2021, with the 61-year-old returning for a second stint after presiding over a golden period in the club’s history previously.

Returning to take over Barcelona, his goal has been to once again bring back the glory days and fix the club’s frail financial state. And despite the hurdles he has been encountering, things appear to be moving in the right direction under Laporta, at least as far as matters on the pitch are concerned.

The club president spoke to CNN in a recent interview during Barcelona’s pre-season tour of the USA, where he went on to discuss an array of matters.

Praise for Lionel Messi

Barcelona missed out on the signing of Lionel Messi this summer, but the president made sure to express total respect as he harbored no resentment.

Waxing lyrical about the Barcelona legend, he said: “Messi is the best player in the world, but a better person… He is the best player in history. We love Messi.“

On the Argentine’s move to Inter Miami this summer, Laporta added: “He took the decision to go to Inter Miami. Good for Miami, good for MLS.

“And of course, we want that this decision to be good for him as well because we respect, of course, his decision and we wish Messi and his family the best in Inter Miami.”

Barcelona’s identity

Despite the club going through a difficult phase financially, Barcelona continue to attract top players across the globe, thanks to the club’s legacy and identity.

Last summer, the Catalans signed the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde, among others, while Ilkay Gundogan has arrived this year.

With Barcelona’s history and reputation regarded as the club’s biggest asset, Laporta took the opportunity to shine a light on the club’s illustrious identity, saying:

“Fortunately, most of the players like Football Club Barcelona. They like our club for the way that we manage the club, for the kind of players that we had in the past and in the present.”

“Cruyff, Pep, Xavi. They belong to the same school and they share the same philosophy; the Cruyff philosophy.”

The recent rise of Saudi Arabia

After defining Barcelona as one of the ideal destinations on a sporting basis, Laporta gave his two cents on the recent rise of football in Saudi Arabia.

“When a player, and with all due respect, prefers to go to Saudi Arabia, basically there are no sporting reasons. You know, there are other reasons that are the priority. And the football must be the priority – the sporting reasons must be the priority,” he said.

Top players like Riyad Mahrez, Borozovic, Ruben Neves, and Ngolo Kante, to name some, have taken their talents to the Middle East, with the immense financial package offered to them a significant motivator.

Barcelona were in direct competition with Al Nassr for the signing of Brozovic, yet failed to compete due to the vast difference in wages.

“I respect the decisions of the Saudi government that, you know, incorporate talented players,” he commented.

“Football is a team sport. Of course, the talented players help us to promote this sport and to make the fans happy because the talent is the talent, but … the team is the priority.”

While the Barcelona president subtly disregarded the sporting merits of playing in Saudi Arabia, he implied the aid of European clubs like Barcelona proving to be a far more fruitful venture.

“There are big European clubs, Barcelona, that could help these teams in the Saudi Pro League in order to get some associations to transfer our know-how and to help them to improve their teams,” added Laporta.

Barcelona’s objectives for the next season

Laporta made his stance clear on the objectives laid out for Barcelona, while also commenting on the achievement of the past season.

“The priority of last season was La Liga and this new season, for us, La Liga is the priority as well,” he said.

“We would like to compete better in the Champions League, and we would like to be among the candidates for winning this competition… But our priority still is La Liga.”