Joan Laporta provides insight to Barcelona’s summer transfer pathway
Spanish giants Barcelona may have missed out on a sensational return of club icon Lionel Messi, but club president Joan Laporte plans to press on in the wake of Barça’a La Liga win and supply boss Xavi Hernández with the necessary tools to compete on all fronts in 2023-24.
The 61-year-old Barça schoolmaster has set out the club’s approach to the transfer market in order for Xavi to not only push for La Liga honors in back-to-back seasons but considerably improve their showing on the continent in the Champions League.
Laporta on Barça signings: “We need to sign one right back and two midfielders to complete the team as Xavi asked”. 🔵🔴 #FCB
“Xavi’s new contract? We will do it at the right moment, once we complete our squad”, told @mundodeportivo. pic.twitter.com/ZobcWbS28z
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2023
Additionally, Laporte has also weighed in on the futures of both Ousmane Dembélé and Ansu Fati; two players whom he plans to see at the Spotify Camp Nou moving forward.
“I think he [Dembélé] will stay at Barça. Xavi loves him and I’m a big fan too. It’s true that he’s not gonna activate the €50m clause — we’re negotiating a new long-term deal. We hope it happens”
“I see Ansu Fati’s future here at Barcelona. He wants to win here, he’s a goalscorer and he wants to continue at our club. Xavi is convinced to give Ansu a new opportunity at the club”.
When speaking on a possible deal for Brazilian starlet Vitor Roque, Laporte stated “It will depend on the FFP, on the viability plan”. There are operations that have to be done”
Finally, Laporte shed light on the feelings at the club surrounding their inability to convince Lionel Messi to return to Catalunya after missing out on the Argentine legend, who opted to move to MLS outfit Inter Miami.
“We’ve a good relationship with Messi but we didn’t speak with Leo after his decision to join Inter Miami. We wish him all the best. We had his contract ready but it was not possible to proceed. Barcelona will always be his home.”
