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Joan Laporta has took aim at PSG in an interview.
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FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has criticized the first team squad, its breakout star Gavi and his camp, and European rivals Paris Saint Germain while also remarking on the possible return of Neymar.
With the 2021/2022 season having just concluded trophyless for the Blaugrana, Laporta conceded an interview to local Catalan sports newspaper L’Esportiu and couldn’t hide his feelings on poor performances and what he perceives to have been a lack of character among Barca’s stars.
“I finished the season annoyed and disappointed,” stated Laporta. “I am conscious that we’ve had injuries and that at some moments we’ve had chances, but I think that losing against Cadiz, Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal at home is something that makes you disappointed with the attitude of the team.”
“I have suffered as much as Xavi or more from this lack of character,” Laporta insisted. “It has been a great disappointment that this team has not had leadership at any time.”
Laporta has a bone to pick with youngster Gavi too, who is stalling on putting pen to paper with the club he has been at since the age of 11 and renewing terms beyond 2023.
“His agent has had the renewal offer on the table for a long time,” Laporta explained. “We don’t have any news they have accepted it. The news that we do have is that they are comparing and at some time will say something. We have said our position and for now, it’s not been accepted.”
Laporta said that he was “hurt” by Gavi’s agent comparing “because we don’t understand it”, and described the 17-year-old as a “player that we all like”, who has a “present and a magnificent future at Barcelona”.
“If we have players that come out of the academy, we make them an offer of a present and a very good future, and if the agent is comparing and delaying the decision, it’s understandable that I don’t like the situation,” Laporta went on.
Also in Laporta’s crosshairs were Paris Saint Germain, who have just renewed star player Kylian Mbappe with a monstrous signing-on fee while also making him the world’s highest paid player.
“The players end up being kidnapped for the money and those who sign for PSG have almost signed [up for] their slavery,” Laporta balked. “These are the effects that a club [that] has a state behind [it has]. That goes against the principles of the European Union. It is a reflection on regarding the sustainability of football in Europe.”
“Who doesn’t like Neymar?” asked Laporta, when broached on the world record signing PSG snatched away from Camp Nou in 2017 and who the Qatari-backed giants are reportedly looking to offload.
“He is an exceptional player.” Laporta added, before then making it clear that for “all these players to return to Barça one day”, they would have to come for free because “we are not in a position to carry out a purchase operation of what a transfer of these players may cost”.
“It would be a question of the coach thinking if he can fit in Barca’s new project or not,” Laporta also stressed.
