Laporta Romps to Re-Election: Barça Boss Promises Messi Return and Treble Glory!
Joan Laporta has been re-elected Barcelona president in a landslide, beating Victor Font with over 68% of votes amid a festive election day at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou. Stars like Hansi Flick, Pedri, and Xavi voted post a 5-2 win over Sevilla, while Laporta teased Lionel Messi's potential return via tribute or statue. With trebles under Flick and stadium progress, he promises Barça's golden era ahead.
Laporta Romps to Re-Election: Barça Boss Promises Messi Return and Treble Glory!
Imagine turning up to Spotify Camp Nou on a sunny Sunday, not for a LaLiga thriller, but to cast your vote for the club's president. That's exactly what over 48,000 Barcelona socios did, handing Joan Laporta a crushing victory over Victor Font. As reported by Sam Marsden at ESPN Spain, Laporta scooped 32,934 votes – that's nearly 68% – while Font trailed with 14,385. Turnout hit 42.34% from 114,504 eligible members, proving the Blaugrana faithful still care deeply about who steers the ship.
Laporta, sounding like a man who'd just nicked a last-minute winner, dedicated his win to the 'wonderful club' amid chants of 'President!'. He hailed the democratic passion that makes Barça tick, adding that this mandate gives them 'unstoppable' strength. With the club facing headwinds, his words landed like a perfectly weighted Pedri through-ball: optimistic and on target.
Stars Swap Boots for Ballot Papers
It wasn't just punters in the stands – the big names rocked up too. Fresh off a 5-2 demolition of Sevilla, Hansi Flick and stars like Raphinha, Pedri, and Dani Olmo dashed from the pitch to the polling station. Flick, ever the diplomat, kept his vote secret but called it a 'special day' after watching the drama unfold on telly in his office.
Poor Marc-Andre ter Stegen had a proper howler, though – turned away because he hadn't updated his membership details while on loan at Girona. All players get socios status on arrival, but it's on them to keep it current. Meanwhile, injured Barça Femení aces Aitana Bonmatí and Laia Aleixandri made it, unlike most teammates stuck at Deportivo de La Coruña. Even Xavi Hernández, who'd just branded Laporta a 'liar' over Lionel Messi's 2023 no-show, and Sergio Busquets popped in. Polling stations spanned Tarragona, Girona, Lleida, and Andorra – proper nationwide affair.
Messi Magic and a Golden Future
Laporta didn't hold back on the Messi front, telling TV3 the doors are 'always open' for the Inter Miami maestro. 'Leo can link to Barça however he wants,' he beamed, floating ideas like a tribute match or statue alongside Ladislao Kubala and Johan Cruyff. Font hammered Laporta's Messi mishaps – the 2021 exit and 2023 fiasco – but it didn't dent the vote. Messi, with his 672 goals in 778 games, stayed schtum, letting the campaign roll on.
This is Laporta's second spell, echoing his 2021 triumph over Font after Josep Maria Bartomeu's exit. From 2003-2010, he delivered Pep Guardiola, the 2009 Treble, and glory days. Back now, he's bagged two LaLiga titles, three Women's Champions Leagues, and under Flick, a domestic treble last season plus a semi-final run – their first since 2019. This term, they're flying in LaLiga and Europe, with the Camp Nou revamp buzzing: first two tiers live, capacity over 60,000, third incoming.
Font griped about finances and delays, but Laporta insists the books are balancing. He vows the 'best years of our lives' ahead, building with Flick and Deco. For Barça fans, it's like uncorking the good cava – victory on and off the pitch, with Messi dreams simmering. Unstoppable? We'll see, but for now, Laporta's got the keys to the kingdom until 2031.