BARCELONA – Joan Laporta “he sleeps very little, four or five hours, rarely reaches six and has an overflowing vitality”, ESPN Digital revealed a source very close to the new president of Barcelona, explaining in this way that he is able was to deal with situations unexpected events such as the one that triggered Jaume Giró’s premature departure from his management team without causing him to lose perspective on other issues he considered fundamental at the beginning of his tenure.
And in parallel to solving that economic crisis that is weighing on the club, Laporta, a passionate football fan like few others, finds it essential to set up a sports project that motivates Barça fans. How? With the greatest assets you have in the dressing room. If studying Erling Haaland’s chimera will have to wait a few weeks, the opposite will happen to those on the payroll, and there are two names that stand out above the rest: Lionel Messi and Ronald Koeman. Both have the undisguised affection of the President, both received him publicly in his inauguration address, and everyone already knows how far he wants them as the undisputed axes of his project.
“Joan is clear about the concepts and doesn’t speak to speak … Well, letting go of what she said to Leo for the whole world was a point, but she’s been thinking about the topic for weeks,” explained a direct associate of her candidacy to ESPN Digital, admitting that the president “broadly” has a plan to convince the Argentinian star of his continuity.
Giving him the ‘affection’ that Laporta fundamentally nurtures has already been done, alone and in the eyes of the whole world, and from that moment on the moment begins to roll up its sleeves to turn that affection into a concrete proposal that he can convince. “Messi knows the club’s situation and understands the need to cut his salary,” said the same source, without elaborating on details but making it clear that the president’s idea, and by extension of his administration, is to to offer captain. a contract for an indefinite period linked to a continuity at Barça after the end of his career, which is envisaged in at least three or four years.
The post-footballer Messi could become the visible face of the club’s Foundation, which Laporta wants to give a push because he feels he doesn’t have the media impact he deserves today and through the image of the Argentinian, as the biggest exponent in collaboration directly with his, he would get.
In the short term, the most urgent, the task is to convince him by means of a clear and concise idea in the sporting field. “If Leo feels wrapped up in the field in a team with options to fight for anything, a lot will already be won,” said the same source, arguing that the economic aspect of that new contract from then on would not be. it will not be, an aspect that is insurmountable.
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Messi firmly embraced Barcelona’s new president before the proclamation ceremony.
You don’t want to speculate at all about the salary cut to be implemented in that new contract. Whether it’s 20, 25 or 30 percent, since the new directive it is considered feasible to start with that agreement. Especially when it is believed that Messi, who came to vote in the elections and clearly showed that he identified with the club, welcomed Laporta’s victory in the polls with clear satisfaction.
KOEMAN, NOT NEGOTIABLE
If resolving Messi’s continuity is known to be essential, then maintaining Koeman’s continuity is “indisputable” according to another person on the management team. “Ronald, you already know that you have the confidence of this board of directors,” Laporta switched to the Dutch coach during the inauguration, strengthened in the eyes of the whole world.
Koeman warned last weeks that since he thought it was “very important” that the club had a president, he also wanted to make things clear about his person from that new leader and that Laporta’s message could no longer be conclusive.
With one more season on his contract, the work of the Dutchman is highly appreciated in this troubled present. Not only has he caught the pulse of a wardrobe that respects him for his clear and direct speech, for his predisposition to change schedules or for stepping up daily effort, but he has also won the environment thanks to his unconcealed commitment to trust. to give. to the youth, who personalized in Pedri, but also in Araújo, Ilaix, Dest, the now injured Ansu Fati or Riqui Puig and waiting for the perceived Konrad, Collado and others offer a bright future to the Barça youth team.
Understood and unfeasible, a return of Pep Guardiola to the bench (the Catalan coach maintains a very good relationship with Laporta, whom he congratulated on his election victory), Xavi Hernández’s name comes out clearly … Who is seen in the key more of the future than of the present.
Today and tomorrow Barça’s coach Ronald Koeman is without discussion and as much as the new president and his management team understand that they need to be aware of every incident, there is confidence that the Dutchman could be a medium / technical coach. Long journey in Camp Nou, in the image and likeness of what Frank Rijkaard played in his previous stage.
THE MARKET
How to strengthen the team is a puzzle that is difficult to solve in the short term. In the summer of 2003, Laporta completely revolutionized the squad by releasing up to eight contract players (Riquelme, Rochemback, Frank de Boer, Giovanni, Dani, Bonano, Enke and Christanval) and the purchase option for Mendieta and Sorín not to exercise. But it is very complicated to envision a similar scenario in 2021.
If there were assignments then, a similar solution could be sought now because offering a low salary, taking into account salaries, may be more difficult. Only from the exits that can be reached (Neto, Samuel Umtiti, Philippe Coutinho and Junior Firpo are the first names, but not the only ones coming to the plane) will it be possible to think about how and with whom we will be the team can strengthen. .
Koeman maintains his desire to include Memphis Depay, which could be a franchise from Laporta if that doesn’t prevent more signings. If the name of Georginio Wijnaldum is dropped and the name of David Alaba is probably between little and nothing possible, Sergio Agüero also does not have the required quorum, the exact opposite of Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian is seen as “the Ronaldinho of 2003, the name”, is recognized in the new management team, but the reality of the club is more complicated than 18 years ago and negotiating his signing is a challenge between grand and utopian if so . referred to an operation with figures above 100 million euros.
Impossible? “Nothing is impossible. We are Barça and with Joan there is no consideration,” warned another person most trusted by the new president. We’ll have to see him …