Laporta, president of Barcelona: from optimism for Lionel Messi to criticism of Real Madrid for the Negreira case

In less than 24 hours, Joanna Laporta He was on the cover of all sports media portals in Spain (and some in Europe as well). He president of barcelona starred in a double media news story. On Sunday afternoon, at the Getafe stadium where Barça were playing, he took photos with Barcelona fans and when one of them asked him if Lionel Messi would return to the club, he replied: “Yes”. And this Monday he held a press conference on the “Negreira case” and fired hard against Real Madrid: “It is a club historically favored by arbitration awards. It was the club of the (Franco) regime”. Two bombs in a row…

The Messi case

It is known that there is the intention and desire of the Barcelona management for Messi to wear the Blaugrana shirt next season. While Laporta y Cía. They try to make peace with Leo after the distance that took place when number 10 left the club, the days go by and his continuity at Paris Saint Germain after June 30 seems quite difficult. Could this be why Laporta is optimistic about the return operation? On the Getafe field, in the preview of the 0-0 home draw against Barça, the president of the Catalan club took photos with some fans and one of them asked him: “Messi to Barcelona?”. A smiling Joan’s answer was “yes”.

Watch the video:

In this regard, Ramon Planes, former sporting director of Barcelona, ​​​​also spoke in favor of his return: “That marriage should never break. From a sentimental point of view, I think it would be nice if Barca and Messi ended up together.”

The Negro case

This Monday, Laporta held a press conference to clarify Barcelona’s official position regarding the investigation into the club’s alleged corruption by paying a sum of money to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, then vice president of the Technical Referee Committee. The president of Barsa was blunt: “Club Barcelona has never carried out any action that had the purpose or intention of altering the competition to gain a sporting advantage. The Revenue Agency clearly states that it has not been able to demonstrate that the payments made to Mr. Negreira could have influenced the decisions of the referees or the outcome of any match. He hasn’t been able to do it (prove it) because it’s not possible.”

Laporta added in this regard: “It is important to contextualize that this money (7.3 million euros) was paid over 18 years. Not over one, but over a period of 18 years. And in recent years many reports have been found and video five years. It should also be specified that the main provider of the services was Javier Enríquez Romero, son of Enríquez Negreira. This is very important. Furthermore, the vice president of the CTA had no ability to alter the sporting results of the sports competition or to appoint referees. This was not in his duties, the Spanish Federation regulation says it very clearly and the referees confirmed it.”

Soon after, the president showed his discomfort with Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish league, and also with Real Madrid. “There is a club that has appeared as a private accusation, Real Madrid. It is a club historically favored by refereeing decisions. A club that was considered the regime’s team (Francoist). It should be remembered that, for seven decades, most of the presidents of the Refereeing Committee have been former members, former players or former managers of Real Madrid. For seventy years, the people who had to do justice on the pitch have been people associated with Real Madrid. The fact that this club claims to feel harmed strikes me as an unprecedented exercise in cynicism. I trust this process will unmask them and put them in their place. Madrid made an exercise in cynicism and this annoyed me a lot, but I don’t want this to distract attention from the ‘Negreira case’. The trial will unmask them.”