Ingla: "I will be a very quiet president"

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


As a former sports vice-president, so an expert of the sports area, which things have to be changed?
It is something the technical department should decide. When I was vice-president, the most important thing were the demands of the coach and my task was to explain them to the board.

Do you agree with transfers before the elections?
The club has to follow its own pace and if there are operations that are ready to be closed, they should be closed so that the new players can start following the rhythm of the club, the plans for the physical preparation can be drawn up, etcetera...

Signing players now is more expensive?
It depends. If the economic positions are close, you should not wait any longer and finish things. If there is a difference, I would ask them to be cautious and if you have to wait two more weeks, you wait.

Don't you think, however, that the president is eager to leave a legacy as far as players are concerned?
I don't know if that's the reason. When you're the president of Barça, you have to act in the benefit of the club. Always. If you ask yourself the question what will be best for the club, you'll always make the best decision.

You totally exclude that you will yourself announce a transfer?
Yes, although it is true that our candidacy has received many phone calls offering us players. If there is something interesting, we pass the information to the club.

You will try to convince Txiki to stay?
Yes, and I have ideas to explain to him, regarding the technical department. If he feels comfortable, I'll be delighted.

Txiki has had to deal with a lot of criticism...
He has been able to build this successful model. He was an architect of this model. Rijkaard gave us balance and Pep brought it to the highest level. He told me that the era of Rijkaard was over and that Pep was the natural choice.

Which other coaches did you have in mind, apart from Mourinho...
Ernesto Valverde and Laurent Blanc, and then later there also was Michael Laudrup. We did not talk with them because Pep was always the first option. We met with him and his enthusiasm convinced us.

Your opponents don't hesitate to say that you wanted Mourinho...
That is false and anyone who says otherwise isn't telling the truth. He wanted to coach Barça, he still has friends in Barcelona, he knew the club and the way of playing. At that time he didn't have a job and we wanted to get to know his virtues and defects. These were clear. The coach of Barça is the image of the club. And Mourinho was not the right person and that is what I told the president. I have witnesses.

He is the right person for Madrid?
I guess so, because Madrid goes from one side to another, they do not have a defined line.

What do you think about the project of Florentino?
I do not care that much about what the opponent is doing. But I think it is irresponsible to spend a seemingly unlimited budget. We have an opposite model.

Oliver will stay if you win?
Mister Oliver only joined the club in this last phase and although he has contributed to the success of this model, we are looking for another profile.

How can the club grow in terms of merchandising?
The big area of growth is the internationalization. Today we are the club with the most television viewers. People are excited about our style of play. Efforts should be made to capitalize on that in markets such as China, India, Asia, Africa, South America and the United States. If today around ten percent of the revenues of the club come from international business, that should be fourty percent in four or six years from now.

Unicef?
It's an incredible help for the image of the club. It helps us to defend a series of values.

The big teams should defend a television model similar to that of the Premier League.
The current model, negotiating the rights individually, is going very well. Changing it would be an adventure. If there is a collective model that ensures that we can stay competitive, we must look at it.

Is this the challenge of your life?
The challenge was to become sports vice-president after two years without any titles. We couldn't make mistakes. And the team ended up being the Barça of the six cups. Now I don't feel any pressure, I deal with it naturally and I feel very well surrounded.

What kind of president do you want to be?
One who accurately represents the club, a team player, with experienced people, but also picking up fresh ideas from new board members and, finally, a very quiet president.

this was the second and last part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Ingla wants global youth academy
Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections
Ingla denies he didn't want Unicef on shirt

interview: ramiro martín-llanos

Benedito, Salvat, Guixa and Plaza struggling with signatures

The three main Catalan sports papers agree today that Barcelona presidential candidates Sandro Rosell, Jaume Ferrer and Marc Ingla will certainly pass the cut of the 2.095 signatures that should be delivered tomorrow. Rosell would clearly present the most signatures.

From the other four candidates, Benedito would be the closest to pass the cut although it would be close. The three remaining candidates - Santiago Salvat, Jaume Guixà and Alexis Plaza - would almost certainly not obtain the signatures needed and would have to leave the race.

Read more:
The process of collecting the signatures
How many people will be able to vote?
The electoral proceedings

Plaza rejects offer to sell signatures

Speaking to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo (and repeating it later in an interview with Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu), Barcelona presidential candidate Alexis Plaza has said that he has received offers to sell the signatures of club members he has already collected:

"Have they tried to buy my signatures? Oh yes! I can not say who because the person did not identify himself but they have called us and because they think we are new or young, they proposed us to withdraw not to make a fool of ourselves and they asked to put a price on our signatures. But we will fight until the end. I guess some people are very desperate."

Read more:
Plaza: "Young people are tired of fake promises"
The process of collecting the signatures
Plaza considers Alexanko as sports director

Ayats: "We have a model and experience"

Carles Ayats, a member of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer, gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Ferrer uses to say that he wants to continue with the current management model, but changing the style of governing...
Yes, we want a president who appears less in the media, because we believe that the spotlights should be on the players and the coaches.

You announced quite soon that you would take part, but it has not been easy so far. First you disagreed with Laporta, now you have his support, there was the famous spying case... The members could penalize these changes of opinion?
No, Jaume has come out of these events stronger since his leadership has been recognized. He has always managed to deal with the pressure and to stay committed to the club, not like other directors who chose to leave. It was not easy to form a consensus candidacy, and the member will value that.

Ferrer has enough charisma and popularity to win the elections?
Without any doubt. The members surely appreciate the fact that Jaume has been a director since 2003 and that he has not appeared in the media until now. This shows that he has always focused on managing the club well.

But some polls suggest Sandro Rosell is the favorite. Do you believe them?
What I think is that it is clear to the member that to continue winning our project is more secure, because we have a model and the experience of the past years. The polls show a positive trend for Jaume, and we are optimistic.

Which of his virtues would you highlight?
It's a great candidate who has always wanted to be president of Barça. I would highlight his experience, commitment, teamwork, leadership, mental strength at delicate times...

As a member of the current board, Ferrer will certainly be ask for explanations on some of the latest decisions of the board. What do you think about the appointment of Johan Cruyff as honorary president?
We think it's positive, although we also think it should have been done earlier because he already deserved it for a long time.

There's also a lot of talk about pacts. Can you confirm that you won't do it?
We want to get to the final vote alone because we have a strong project. For the moment, we are not considering anything else and if they offer us a pact one day, that should always be with Jaume as leader of the candidacy.

And what would your contribution to the candidacy be?
As an economist and an administrator, I believe I can bring, first of all, a fresh view on things. I am 39 years old, the same as Jaume when he arrived at the club, and I hope to add enthusiasm, ability to think and hard work.

this was the second part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"
Ferrer presenting three new team members
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: dani colmena

There could be up to six electorals debates

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that six radio stations and television channels want to organize a presidential debate ahead of the elections on Sunday 13 June. All of them would want a debate between the actual candidates although some might agree with a debate between the numbers two of each candidacy.

The majority of the candidates would be very willing to take part in the debates, especially Marc Ingla, Jaume Ferrer and Agustí Benedito. Sandro Rosell would on the other hand be reluctant of confirming his presence and has so far only given his approval to the final debate that will be organized by Catalan television channel TV3 on Friday 11 June.

Read more:
Rosell: "Guardiola represents our core values"
Ferrer: "What is working should not be touched"
Ingla: "Barça should be reference of 21st century"

Ingla: "We will change the style of government"

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Club members are holding you at the street after you announced your candidacy?
Yes, and the outcome is very positive. When talking face to face you realize that there was a real need for a solid and capable candidacy that ensures a genuine continuity of the current success model. It is good that there is a candidate besides the offical one and the one that wants the complete rupture and is opposed to the current model.

It's a challenge that the campaign will be quite short?
It is a small challenge, but it is better like this. The member should not be thinking about policies the whole time. It is important for the club that the member participates, but it is good that there is no competition going on, so that voters can analyze well the options and make the best decision without being distracted by sports isues.

The crucial element of the candidacy is a core of experienced people who are already known by the members. What do you want to transmit by that?
That we are the candidacy of the four most influential vice-presidents in the last seven years. That we have no link with the current president and that we offer the members a project for the future. That we will give total continuity to the sporting projects, trying to strengthen them. And that we will change what needs to be changed.

What needs to be changed?
The style of government. We will clearly change it. And in addition, we will give the club a new economic boost and make Barça the most participatory club in the world.

Your slogan is "More Barça than ever", more participation than ever... Which things Barça should have less of?
Less overuse of the office of president. The board should have more common sense than ever and put the interests of the club before the ideologies of the directors. We have to make a leap forward and achieve institutional excellence, which is what we propose.

Laporta said a few days ago that people should not forget that the one who represents the continuity is Jaume Ferrer...
The member should decide on the adjectives. We want to explain our project. The project of Ferrer is a continuism that has a lack of substance. It's a good person, but he stands alone. He has not been a key person during those years of success. He has been the treasurer during most of that time. He did not take any of the decisions that have made this club big.

How many candidates will pass the cut of the signatures?
Since a month I'm saying that there will be four. I do not know exactly who they will be, but I have the feeling that there will be four.

You think there will be pacts?
It is very complicated. Once the groups have their own dynamics, it is difficult to change them. At Barça, there are no ideologies, so it's all about group's dynamics. That is positive because it allows the members to have more options. Also for the candidates, because it makes us compete and make better proposals.

Would you make a deal with Ferrer?
I think that is very complicated.

If a deal would be possible, would you be willing to give up the number one position?
No. In all modesty, I believe that our candidacy has the most power, the most experience, and ensures the model. We have helped to shape it. I myself helped to arrange the transition from Rijkaard to Guardiola. Luckily, the sport project we set up is still in place.

Are you the center project?
We are the balanced project, with the most knowledge. At one side, we have the bureaucratic officialism and on the other side, we have the constant opposition to the current model.

You're in the center and you're a team...
I am fortunate and I have the honour to wear the captain's armband. Any of the other three companions could wear it. They have decided that it would be me. But our style is that of a group. We are distancing ourselves from the superegos.

How would you define your team?
Very polyvalent and very Barca, because we go out there trying to win from the first minute, with an attractive project, and creative in attack, like the Barça of Pep. We will go forward and when we will need to defend ourselves against the attacks by other candidates, we will do that without stopping to think about how to recover the ball and go forward again. It will be the style of a team, it won't be presidential.

Are you ready for the attacks in a campaign that is expected to be dirty?
I'm not ready for a dirty campaign, I'm ready for fair play and positive ideas. Dirty games don't interest me. We will make very clear that there is a man who opposes the current model and another one who represents a continuism that I don't I believe in.

Aren't you worried about presenting a team project in a football world that is very presidential?
The model of a president-star, who lives in outer space so that nobody knows where he is, is very unrealistic. We have the current example and we have a candidate who is very much like it and who is acting as a star for almost five years. The position of president of Barça has a certain danger to it and I - as anyone else - could be affected by it, so that is why for the good government of the club things should be done as a team. And I have the best.

What will be your style as president?
Delegating a lot, giving everyone their own areas of government. And discrete, with a rather low profile, I do not like the big gestures. It is a feature of my personality, and combined with the best team, we can find a good balance.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Ingla wants global youth academy
Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections
Ingla denies he didn't want Unicef on shirt

interview: ramiro martín-llanos

Cruyff won't support any candidate

Asked if he will support a candidate in the upcoming elections for president of FC Barcelona, Barcelona honorary president Johan Cruyff has said in an interview with Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu that he will not speak ouy:

"I won't. I have now a position that forces me to think about what is good for the club. I imagine that we all talk nonsense every now and then, but you should try to avoid it.

But I am curious to know why some of those who are running now have resigned before, and whether they would do it again, to know why they did not agree and if they still disagree or if they want to rectify. That wouldn't be an error, but recognizing that at the time of leaving, they were wrong. That is how athletes do it, you only improve by being self-critical."

Read more:
Cruyff becomes honorary president
The Quote: Sandro Rosell
Guixa and Benedito want members to ratify Cruyff

Ayats: "Guardiola already knows us"

Carles Ayats, a member of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer, gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


You're one of the few new faces in this election race. When did your relationship with Jaume Ferrer start?
I'm a very big Barça fan and I met Jaume 4 or 5 years ago through mutual friends. I have always firmly believed that he would be the successor of Laporta. And when he made the step forward, I did not hesitate to offer him my help.

The leaders of the three main candidacies were part of that same board of 2003. What differentiates you from the other candidates?
I think we are the only ones that guarantee the continuation of a project that has given us great results. We have a project that works and it would now be very risky to change that. We have to wait for more details about the other candidates, but for us things are clear: we want a president who does not intervene in the sporting decisions, who lets the professionals shine and who keeps the current structure.

What do you think when other candidates, like Marc Ingla, are also claiming this model?
Ingla left the club and did not participate in the year in which the team achieved the biggest successes in the history of the club. When one needed to have the responsibility to hold on, he couldn't deal with the pressure.

You also talk about getting closer to the members...
Both the members as the fan clubs claim that the board would be closer to them, that the president participates in more events... In the case of the fan clubs, we are committed to put into practice their 'XXI century' project, that was proposed to us by their advisory council. The fan clubs ask for more self-management and we will look for a good deal for everyone.

What feelings do you have after the meetings with members and fan clubs?
We feel that the members are proud to belong to this club. Not only for the football team but also for the other sections, which are now at a very high level. The results and the management over the last seven years with great economic and sporting achievements support our claim.

What does it mean to have the explicit support of president Laporta?
We appreciate his support, but we had already set up our candidacy before that he pronounced. Our project has not changed at all after that.

Do you believe that Pep Guardiola will feel comfortable with your project?
As a professional, I'm sure he will not speak out, he's part of the club not of a candidacy. But the member is intelligent and knows that with us, Pep will certainly feel comfortable because he already knows us.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"
Ferrer presenting three new team members
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: dani colmena

Godall: "It's a team project against ego projects"

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


How do you see Ingla?
With a conciliatory spirit, positive, eager to unite and not exclude anyone, which allows me to reconnect with all the people who worked for my candidacy and see if they want to have a role in this one. In addition, he is very motivated, he is a big Barcelona fan, a football fan, and he has always had the serenity not to let himself be influenced. He has a clear structure of the club in his head and the campaign, the project and the Barça of the future are also very clear to him. He has convinced me. His merit is to have united all of us. Without him, this candidacy would not have been possible. He has contributed to the construction of the current project during the arrival of Pep Guardiola since he was sports vice-president at that time. Both him and all of us want to put our experience at the service of the Barça of the future.

Why did you join the candidacy of Ingla and not the one of Ferrer?
Because one of my main ideas as a candidate was trying to add Soriano and his people to the candidacy. They have had an important role in the developping of the current Barça project. The bases of the 'virtuous circle' were established by Soriano. This economic restructuring was made possible thanks to the work of Marc Ingla who was in charge of merchandising, opening new markets, exploring possibilities, setting new goals, modernizing the club, giving value to the sponsorship of the club and a series of decisions he took. Albert Vicens was able to add prestige, he was a careful director who represented the club with dignity and never wanted to be in the limelight. These are skilled people who know Barça very well and still have a lot left to do.

Laporta and Jaume Ferrer have collided many times because of differences of opinion. Do you think that their candidacy is artificial?
I think it's inconsistent. I cannot believe that Jaume would end up facing Rosell in the elections, because I think they are very similar, both at a personal level as in terms of their entourage. I have always thought that both would difficultly end up being opponents. Besides that, he has now taken up the role of continuist when Laporta had thought about other possibilities before, it all seems inconsistent to me. I have nothing against Jaume. He has been a good fellow board member and he has been there during all those years, but I'm not convinced by his project nor by his campaign team that should materialize a solid project.

But do you think it's at this moment possible that Rosell and Ferrer could make a deal?
Both are part of the entourage of the Pujol-Ferrusola family [jordi pujol is a formar catalan president]. Alejandro Echevarría [former brother-in law of joan laporta] has a role in that group. Albert Perrín too. People, in short, who have the need to feel that they are part of the electoral process, because otherwise, they know that they will be out of the club. What if Ferrer would arrive at the final electoral stage and spend a large budget - because that is needed - to face Rosell, whose entourage is kind of the same... Frankly, I think it is difficult they would be rivals. I think a previous deal is possible.

What is also said is that Jaume Ferrer could end up making a deal with Ingla...
I don't rule out anything. I know that Marc is a person of harmony. But if he joins, it will be to come and support, taking up the role that Mark believes is best for him.

Ingla, Soriano, Vicens and Godall. You are "the four tenors" against two personalities?
Yes, but it won't only be that. It's a team with a candidate. And with interesting people behind. It is important to add new blood. There will be new people with a lot of ideas. It will be the project of a team against individual ego projects. The project of Sandro Rosell is again a self-centred one, in which everything turns around a candidate.

The difference between your candidacy and that of Ferrer is that you both guarantee the model, but that he does it with the support of Laporta and you don't?
Not only that. We recognize the legacy of Laporta. But now we need to talk about the future of Barça. The big difference will be that those who go with Jaume don't have a past in this Barça, they will have been two years or less at the club. While we were at the club since 2003, that is a guarantee of knowledge.

What will your role be?
I want to have an active role and I'm at the disposal of Marc.

If you win, you will again work in the social area?
There will be novelties. We will bring our experience to the table, but also new concepts. I am thinking about making innovative proposals regarding the club members, in terms of new services, new ways of participation...

Based upon your experience as a Barcelona supporter and a director, which two candidacies will end up fighting for the presidency?
Right now I see a bipolarisation Ingla-Rosell.

this was the second and last part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Godall and Soriano will be vice-presidents Ingla
Ingla: "We are the real continuity candidacy"
Godall confirms he is part of Ingla candidacy

interview: ferran correas - ramiro martín-llanos

Godall: "Laporta understands my decision"

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Why did you change from being the official continuity candidate to being a member of the candidacy of Marc Ingla?
From the moment I decided to participate in the electoral campaign and the future of the club, it was clear to me that I wanted to build a project with people I fully trust, which meant approaching people like Ferran Soriano and his group. But that was not the idea president Laporta had about a continuity candidacy and so he decided to withdraw his support for me and give it to another board colleague.

And when Soriano decided not to run...
Then I withdrew my candidacy and I kept on the lookout. A little later, I again started talking with Ferran, Albert Vicens and others and our positions came closer.

What was the role of Ingla at that point?
Interesting and very positive. He was immediately offered the option to be the candidate who was able to unite the group.

Which position do you want to take?
It's very clear to us that there is a gap in the centre of the electoral scene that is worth filling. We are a project between a continuism because of the continuism, a bit driven by the outgoing president, and a change because of the change led by Sandro Rosell, driven by a certain spirit of revenge and grudge. There are many fans who are waiting for a candidacy in which they can trust, a candidacy of experience and future. We are very motivated and we think we have a lot of chance to win.

Laporta said he was withdrawing his support for you because you could not deal with the pressure...
I do not share his way of seeing this. He wanted that I assured him that I would be the candidate. But my approach was to make the best possible candidacy. My idea was that to make the current project continue it was not relevant that I was the number one on the list. In addition, the president wanted me to include certain people in the candidacy while my idea was in fact to add new blood.

He wanted members of the current board in your candidacy...
Yes, the majority. But if one looks at the names, many of those have joined the club after the last resignation of directors and do not really represent the continuity since they have only joined in at the last minute. Making the decision to be a candidate also meant I was free to choose the people that I thought were the best.

Very interventionist...
He cannot run in these elections. His interventionism is excessive. It would be wiser to have a more generous and respectful attitude towards those involved in the electoral process. It's very easy for Laporta to leave the club as a president who has put his stamp, because I have no doubts that time will do him justice and will show that he has been a great president of Barça. His positioning now could give him another point of greatness.

Do you think he should be completely neutral?
I have no doubt at all that the club will guarantee the transparency of the elections. As the person is concerned, the president is playing an overly influential role in the elections.

Are you disappointed with the president?
I don't agree with him, but I don't feel as if he has disappointed me, neither as friend nor as president. These are probably the best years of the club thanks to a president capable of taking courageous decisions. I was upset by the fact that he withdraw his support. I considered resigning and I put my position at the disposal of the president after telling him that I would not assist anymore institutional events or watch games from the presidential box, but he didn't tell me anything. I did not resign myself because there is very little time left until the end of the mandate and, especially, because the team is still competing.

You felt left alone when the president withdraw his support?
I would rather say sad. But not alone. When it happened, I understood that everyone on the board was waiting to see what I would do. Now that I know what I will do, I will restore contact.

You have talked with him lately?
We saw each other at a public event. I hadn't yet taken the decision to join this candidacy, but it was close. We didn't talk about Barça.

Do you think he is annoyed by this decision of yours?
I don't think so. I have every right to do this and I'm entitled to take part in elections in the way I think is best. I think Laporta will respect that.

Are you concerned about his reaction?
Frankly, no. Joan Laporta is my friend. I love him, respect him and I know the feeling is mutual. He will perfectly understand it.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Godall and Soriano will be vice-presidents Ingla
Ingla: "We are the real continuity candidacy"
Godall confirms he is part of Ingla candidacy

interview: ferran correas - ramiro martín-llanos

Godall confirms he is part of Ingla candidacy

In an interview with Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu, Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has confirmed the reports (read more here) that he and former vice-presidents Ferran Soriano and Albert Vicens will be part of the project of Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla:

"It's very clear to us that there is a gap in the centre of the electoral scene that is worth filling. We are a project between a continuism because of the continuism, a bit driven by the outgoing president, and a change because of the change led by Sandro Rosell, driven by a certain spirit of revenge and grudge.

There are many fans who are waiting for a candidacy in which they can trust, a candidacy of experience and future. We are very motivated and we think we have a lot of chances to win. This is a team with a candidate. It will be a team project, contrary to other self-centred ego projects. My role? I want to actively take part and I'm at the disposal of Marc."

In an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport, Godall has said more or less the same.

Read more:
Ingla preparing his election campaign
Soriano, Vicens and maybe Godall in Ingla team
Godall doesn't believe in Ferrer-Rosell duel

Soriano, Vicens and maybe Godall in Ingla team

Catalan television station TV3 claims that former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla will head a list that will include two former vice-presidents who left the club with him in 2008 after the vote of no confidence: Ferran Soriano and Albert Vicens.

Vicens, who reportedly thought at the start to stay out of the elections process (read more here), would have confirmed to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he is already actively taking part in the preparation of the campaign of Ingla. During a meeting on Sunday afternoon at the house of Ingla, some last details about the campaign would have been discussed.

Besides the two ex-directors, Ingla could also get the support of current vice-president Alfons Godall, who withdrew his own candidacy last month (read more here). Godall and Ingla would currently be holding talks on a collaboration and it might soon be officially announced that Godall will be part of the project.

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu says that it's certain that Godall will join the candidacy of Ingla. Asked about the reports in the media, Godall nevertheless denied on his Facebook page that there would already be a deal: "At this moment, nothing has been confirmed... We will see how everything will evolve!"

Read more:
Talks between Ingla and Godall
Ingla preparing his election campaign
Soriano confirms support for Ingla

on the picture (from left to right): ferran soriano, albert vicens, marc ingla, alfons godall

The Pundit: Lluis Simon on board of 2003

« With the pre-election marathon still going on I've remembered the first phrase that I heard Joaquim Maria Puyal [catalan journalist] say when asked in 2003 what he thought of Laporta and the new board that had just been elected, with the shiny Sandro Rosell, Ferran Soriano, Alfons Godall and Marc Ingla up front. "You can see they are very intelligent and, above all, very, very clever." He stopped for a second to clarify the message: "Maybe even too clever." »

Lluís Simon,
El 9 Esportiu

check more pundit talk

Soriano will support candidacy Ingla

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla will hold this evening a dinner with his team of collaborators in which the structure of his candidacy for the presidency of FC Barcelona will be finalized (read more here).

Former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano, who decided not to run for president at the end of last month (read more here), would support Ingla during the campaign. This is confirmed by Catalan sports papers Sport and El 9 Esportiu, with the first claiming that Soriano might be part of the board team of Ingla.

El 9 Esportiu claims that Ingla has been working hard on the pre-candidacy of Soriano and would now feel capable of leading that project himself. Over the past months, Ingla would have held meetings with important Catalan businessman and reportedly thinks he has the support and the experience needed to run for president.

Read more:
Former vice-president Ingla will run for president
Soriano awaiting election events
Ingla has decided to run for president

The Pundit: Lluis Simon on press relations Rosell

« At a breakfast with Sandro Rosell and twenty journalists, the presidential candidate asked all the guests for discretion. That's an exercise in faith. Journalists are, by definition, the biggest chatterers on earth and therefore - without anything having been written - everyone already knows everything that was said at the meeting. »

Lluís Simon,
El 9 Esportiu

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MotoGP businessman possible vice-president Rosell

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Catalan businessman Manel Arroyo could become the economic vice-president of FC Barcelona if presidential candidate Sandro Rosell is elected in the upcoming elections.

Last month, it was said that former Barcelona director Xavier Faus was the main candidate of the Rosell candidacy to become economic vice-president (read more here).

Manel Arroyo is the 49-year old managing director of Dorna Sports, an international sports management and marketing company, that is among other things the exclusive holder of all commercial and television rights of the MotoGP World Championship since 1992.

Read more:
Businesswoman Susana Monje will be treasurer Rosell
The three areas and vice-presidents of Rosell
MotoGP businessman part of board team Rosell

The Pundit: Alex Santos on re-election Laporta

« If Laporta could be re-elected, I think there would be no chance to take the presidency away from him, just like when Josep Lluís Núñez ran for a new term. »

Alex Santos,
El 9 Esportiu

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Soriano will not run for president

After Catalan radio station RAC 1 brought the news first yesterday late in the evening, almost all Catalan media confirm today former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano will announce later today that he will not run for Barcelona president in the upcoming elections.

Soriano would have made the decision yesterday around noon. The pressure from the shareholders of Spanish airline Spanair, of which Soriano is the chairman since last year, would have been decisive in his final decision. Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that there has also been political pressure.

Despite of not heading a candidacy himself, Soriano would leave the door open to be part of another project or give his support to another candidate who will take part in the elections.

El Periódico claims that Soriano and his right-hand man, former Barcelona sports vice-president Marc Ingla, could try to look for someone who could lead the project they have been working on. Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu on the other hand claims that Soriano could join the candidacy of Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer.

Read more:
Soriano calls press conference for tomorrow
Spanair board divided on Soriano candidacy
Soriano to make a decision before Friday

sources: rac 1, el mundo deportivo, el periódico, la vanguardia, el 9 esportiu

Ferrer becomes official continuity candidate

Yesterday evening at 7 pm, Barcelona president Joan Laporta organized an emergency board meeting at the offices of his law firm in Barcelona. The point of discussion were the results of polls carried out by the candidadcy of Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall and by the club.

The polls showed that it would be difficult for Godall to win the elections on his own, that Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano was doing better than him and that a joint candidacy of Godall and Soriano, led by the second, would win the elections in June. After been informed about the results, Godall told Laporta during the weekend that he didn't want to continue as candidate.

Godall yesterday repeated that he would not lead a candidacy that would not be supported by Soriano and that he would accept Soriano to head the project, something that was opposed to by Laporta and Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer. The president, who also would not have been happy with the way of campaigning of Godall over the last weeks, withdrew his support for Godall.

Laporta, who did not want to support Soriano leading a candidacy with Godall, then proposed to Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín to run for president. After Sala i Martín rejected the offer, as did Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix, Laporta decided to give his support to Ferrer, who wants to continue with an own candidacy without making a deal with Soriano.

Laporta after the meeting personally called with the board members who could not be present, among which vice-president Albert Perrín and directors Magda Oranich and Patrick Auset, to explain them what had been discussed and decided. Almost all directors would now support Ferrer.

sources: rac 1, sport, efe, el mundo deportivo, el 9 esportiu, la vanguardia

What will Evarist Murtra do?

After Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola dedicated his team's victory in the World Cup for Clubs to former Barcelona director Evarist Murtra, there has been some speculation in the Catalan press about the role of Murtra in the upcoming elections.

(read the first part of this post that gives background information on the person of evarist murtra here)

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Murtra has been contacted by several pre-candidates asking him to join them. Murtra would have rejected the offers and is quoted as replying to all: "Never again will I be a director of FC Barcelona."

Murtra would want to stay totally independent to have the chance to freely express his opinion about the situation of the club and although he won't actively take part in the campaign, he could publicly say to which candidacy he feels closes when the elections come nearer.

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that there's still a chance that Murtra, who reportedly already rejected an approach by among others the candidacy of Alfons Godall, will join former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano, who would still be trying to convince Murtra to get involved.

The local press meanwhile couldn't agree on the presence of Murtra at a dinner organized earlier this month by Soriano to which he invited all the members of the Barcelona board who left the club together with him after the vote of no confidence in July 2008 (read more here).

Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia claims that Murtra certainly won't take part in the elections, Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu that he seems not willing to particpate and Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo that he plans to stay neutral in the whole process.

this is the second and last part of this post. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Soriano dines with former board colleagues
The Board Movements (2003-2009)
Soriano to announce candidacy next month