Barcelona fans are lifting him up, putting the future aside for a moment and enjoying what’s happening at the Nou Camp right now, while others look suspicious and wonder how Joan Laporta is bringing in the signings this summer. Because how the president of the Catalan club managed to make the “pre-bankruptcy” club the biggest spender in the summer of 2022 will be studied for years to come.
Even though he has been dragging players for a year asking them to agree to a reduction in annual income so he can sign up expensive rookies, Laporta has no intention of stopping. He brought in Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen for free – but on an annual salary of 6,000,000 a year – and paid over 150,000,000 for Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha and Giles Kunde, but – he wants more! According to some Spanish media, next, we will see if Bernardo Silva could be the last target. It is not news that the Portuguese is on Barcelona’s radar, the Catalans were looking for him last summer, then winter, and they still haven’t cooled down from the idea of bringing him. At the same time, according to L’Equip, his agent Jorge Mendes offered him to Barcelona (and Real) in the previous days and allegedly contacted the leaders of the Catalans.
Laporta pointed out that his transfer window did not end yesterday, when he was asked to comment on criticism from Bayern due to excessive spending of money.
“I would ask them to focus on their account, they got good money for Lewandowski. For those who are surprised, I would say that we are quite alive and back in the market. And there may be more surprises,” said Laporta.
A day later in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo indirectly, commenting on the rumors about Bernardo Silva, emphasized who it could be.
“Bernardo Silva? A very good player. I respect that he belongs to Manchester City. I have friends there, like Pep Guardiola, Chiki Begiristain and Al Mubarak. There are many people I know”, emphasizes Laporta.
It’s no news that Barcelona have been keen on Chelsea’s defensive duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso for some time now.
“Both in Barca?” They are under contract with Chelsea and we respect that as well as their new owner. I have respect for both Alonso and Azpilicueta, they are very, very good players. They show quality and talent, but I don’t want to talk about them.”
What interests the public is how Barcelona, despite the supposedly weaker financial offer, managed to bring in Kunde and thereby “steal” from Chelsea another reinforcement after Rafinha.
“The player gave us an advantage over Chelsea because he understood that we had a viable project with a coach he liked. In this case we had an advantage over our competitor. The player also helped us in this specific matter.”
In the previous period, there were also rumors about the departure of Frankie de Jong from the club, supposedly Barcelona has already agreed with Manchester United… So, will the Dutchman leave for England?
“You never know in football. It all depends on many individuals. I can say that there is a great possibility that he will stay and I will do everything to make it happen”.
Laporta adds that De Jong, as things currently stand, will not agree to a financial sacrifice to help the club register the latest signings.
“The first thing I want to say is that we want Frankie to stay at Barcelona and he wants that too. What we’re trying with him is the same as what we’re doing with the rest of the team, but we can’t force him to take a pay cut. It’s his decision.”
