Rosell: "I don't represent the Brazilian school"

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.

translation: archie valparaiso

You've talked about proposing some players to Guardiola. Isn't that interfering in the coach's bailiwick?
I said we had some proposals. If they're asking whether we've got Wayne Rooney, for example, well, no. If we win the elections on the 14th, we'll sit down with the coaching staff and ask them, "Apart from what you wanted, we've got this and this. Are you interested?" And he'll be the one who decides.

You seem as if you like being hands-on, to want to be the team's general manager
I'm standing as chairman and that's what I want to be. I won't act as a coach or manager.

That implies that some players have been looked into and a commitment has been reached with some of them.
Yes, some people have been working to see if it could help Barça.

Who?
People from the pre-candidacy campaign.

And they'll be working in the sports department if you win the election?
No, not necessarily.

It's also been pointed out that you have your own sports-marketing company. Where do you draw the line between private business and Barça?
If we win, I'll sell it. Not because of any conflict of interest, but because I won't have the time. That's the essential reason. Having said that, the company is the same one I had in 2003. Those who criticise me now were perfectly happy for me to have it seven years ago, and I was the one who introduced them to people like Pelé, Havelange, Blatter, Platini, and so on. Back then it was fantastic, but now it's the devil's work, apparently.

Will you stop working or work less?
I'll work less for my companies so I can give Barça all the time it needs.

You carry the stigma of being Florentino Pérez transferred to Barça. Does that worry you or make you feel uncomfortable?
It's simply false. We're nothing alike in terms of the types of people we are. It's been proven that a decision with a consensus is always better than one made individually. And a signing is an important decision. That's how we'll work at Barça.

More labels: you defend the Brazilian school while today's Barça is inspired by the Dutch school
Look, we signed Ronaldinho, Belletti, Edmilson and Silvinho. They cost us 32 million and three of them played in the [2006 Champions League] final in Paris. And they won two Spanish league titles as well. Then, by selling Ronaldinho and Belletti, the club recovered 25 million of that. Now there are four Brazilians - Alves, Maxwell, Keirrison and Henrique - who cost 76 million. In the last match only Alves played, because Maxwell was injured, while two of them, Keirrison and Henrique, have never been seen on the pitch. And I'm supposed to represent the Brazilian school? Do me a favour!

Is Guardiola beyond all doubt?
Of course he is. And to demonstrate our confidence in him, if we win we'll be offering him a contract for our full term of office, six years. With annual renewals and quantitative and qualitative targets to be met. Because we know that's how Pep is going to want it.

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

Read more:
Rosell: "Barça is not only about goals and titles"
"Sandro Rosell" not on support slips
Rosell wants to regulate new members

interview: david torras - joan domènech

Rosell: "We can't afford to relax now"

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.

translation: archie valparaiso

In the poll published by El Periódico, you achieved a voting-intention figure of 54.8%. What’s your reaction to that?
It's always nice to see that people trust in you and your programme. But you can't afford to relax in the slightest. We've been working for quite some time on creating a solid, rigorous, credible option for running Barça. And with barely three weeks to go, we're not going to let up now.

What's your strategy going to be from now on?
We've drawn up our route map and we're not going to stray from it, however much the opinion polls may be in our favour. As a great painter, Picasso, once said: inspiration exists but it's best if it catches you when you're working. Or, what amounts to the same thing: dreams do exist, but its best if they catch you when you're wide awake.

The ballot papers feature someone called Alexandre Rosell. Is that the same person as Sandro?
Yes, I was very surprised to see that. I'd asked for them to use the name that everyone has always used for me - my mother, my daughters, my father, my friends - which is Sandro Rosell i Feliu. I've always been called that, but "Alexandre" is what it says on my birth certificate. I was surprised, because when I was vice-chairman "Sandro" was what they used on the club's website and the visiting cards they had made for me. I don't know what’s behind it all, but...

Are you worried about any other complications of any kind?
We've all been denied access to the list of voters and only been given the membership numbers without the members' names. We'd like to think that there won't be any funny business, that the president and the electoral board will stay neutral, but things like this are a cause for some concern.

What did you think about Guardiola, in his first message after winning the league, giving his thanks to Laporta?
Soon he's going to be a former president, and it's fine for Guardiola to have made that reference. I really mean that; there's no hidden message.

With team issues no longer in the way, do you expect the electoral campaign to get tougher?
Not from our side, no. Since we started, everyone except Plaza and Guixà have criticised us, saying all sorts of things about us. We're going to carry on in our own way, explaining our programme without bad-mouthing anybody.

Those who have criticised you most are your former fellow directors. Did you really leave such a bad taste in their mouths?
That's true. Ingla, Godall, Vicens and also, to a slightly extent, Ferrer. I don't know why they're doing it. I'm not going to criticise them.

You changed Laporta's "Cruyff, Catalonia, Unicef" to "Members, Catalonia, Solidarity and Youth System"? Is Cruyff the only difference?
No, I wouldn't say that. We're fully aware that that the members are the club's owners and have noticed that they haven't been treated as such, but rather as customers. That's the situation as far as the business model is concerned. Financially, we'll review the actual position, and work to cover the debt without selling off assets. We won’t be going ahead with the Foster [new Camp Nou stadium] project, because we've got another one. Then there's the youth system. We need to do the job that used to be done fifteen years ago by people like Oriol Tort and Rexach, who signed Messi, with the result that seven of the eleven players who won the league title for us have come up through the ranks. We're concerned to ensure that this is really being done, because we'll see the results in fifteen years' time.

You're questioning the work that's being done with the youth players even though it seems to be one of the cornerstones of Barça's current success?
What I'm saying is that we need to review what's being done because it'll be fifteen years before we see its fruits. If there's so much interest, if they keep going on about the youth system, why has the hall of residence been a skeleton for so many years without any progress being made? The young lads are still sleeping in dormitory huts or rented apartments. The completion of those works was budgeted for, but instead of that they've spent 18 million euros on some land in Viladecans that's a swamp.

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

Read more:
Rosell: "Barça is not only about goals and titles"
"Sandro Rosell" not on support slips
Rosell wants to regulate new members

interview: david torras - joan domènech

Poll result: Who would you vote for?

Who would you vote for as president of Barça?

Sandro Rosell 54,8%
Marc Ingla 12,4%
Jaume Ferrer 9,9%
Santiago Salvat 1,6%
Agustí Benedito 1,4%
Alexis Plaza 0,4%
Jaume Guixà 0,3%

Others 1,0%
None 1,3%
Won't vote 2,3%
Don't know/Don't answer 14,9%

total votes: 800
date poll: 16 may 2010
poll method: interviews with club members who have the right to vote by polling agency Gesop in the surroundings of the Camp Nou around the time of the league game against Valladolid

source: el periódico and sport

check more election poll results here

The Quote: Sandro Rosell

"My youth idol was Johan Cruyff. Together with Cholo Sotil."


Sandro Rosell,
Barcelona presidential candidate

read more election quotes here

Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"

Barcelona assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.


All what has happened in the board is the main ballast of your candidacy?
I think it is the only ballast because, as for the rest, it has been proven that the club is working well with this sports and economic model we have developed and followed. Although they might be designed with good intentions, we do not know how things will go with alternative models. The only thing they can reproach us is what happened in the board. When in a group, people think and give their opinion there are debates, discussions and possible conflicts.

Godall has criticized you and announced a pact between you and Rosell because of political interests.
I do not know where he got the pact with Rosell, he must have been dreaming. It is impossible, because of the people in our teams and because both candidacies are already formed. If we wanted to make a pact, we would already have had time for it since 23 December.

Soriano could have a place in your candidacy?
I'm open for someone like Soriano to work together us. I have talked with him and he knows we would accept him. The doors are open for him, as for all those Barcelona fans who want to work for the good of the club. I want to end the divisions.

So Laporta is giving you the freedom to decide?
That should be very clear. The president does not want a puppet either. He knows that his term ends on 30 June and that the candidacy we announced on 23 December is led by me, and Laporta won't have anything to do nor will he intervene. I have been part of all the good and the bad things that happened over the past seven years. Of everything. Very good things have been done and that is our project for the future, but with the style of Jaume Ferrer.

Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable?
For me, yes. We know that Txiki wants to quit but we will try to convince him to stay. With Guardiola we have spoken more than once, we are part of the same club, but you have to let him do his job now because he is focused on the competitions and on preparing the players.

The continuity of Guardiola seems to be guaranteed with this board while it could be put in question when someone else comes to power.
He already knows how we work, he feels comfortable and that is a guarantee for his continuity.

The issue of the delegate commission stays the same after having left upon a decision of Laporta?
The statutes say it should be formed by the president, a vice-president, the secretary and the treasurer. And that is the case for over a month now. I don't want to re-enter, I shouldn't have more rights than other candidates and know more about the day-to-day of the club.

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

Read more:
Ferrer invites Godall and Sala to join him
Cartoon: With dramatic affect
Ferrer: "I know how do this"

interview: david torras and joan domènech

Ferrer: "What is working should not be touched"

Barcelona assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.


Do you feel comfortable with the label of continuity candidate?
I don't know if that's the right word. I feel comfortable with the idea that my model is the one that has been used until today. The sports model, with as climax the six trophies; the economic model, of not spending more than you receive; and the social model, improving the services for the club member. And I am pleased that almost all board colleagues are at my side.

So the only thing that changes is the face of the president?
Basically, what changes is the way of doing things. The president has had an important role, but now there are other needs and the focus should again be on the players and the coaches. We each have our way of being and so it's normal that there would be a change of style. I think that the president has to comply with his obligations while at the same time being discreet. But the really important thing is that the club is functioning and in that sense we will change almost nothing. We shouldn't take any risks by new proposals of which we do not know where they will lead us. That is the message we want to give to the club member. That this is the model. That what is working should not be touched.

Laporta has changed his mind and now he supports you after having neglected you. How do you think the club member looks at these swings?
Godall and I each decide to be a candidate and that caused a split. The president chooses to support his close friend. When Godall withdraws, it is understandable that the president supports the candidacy that brings together the vast majority of the board and that maintains the same model.

But you and Laporta have lived very difficult moments.
Yes, they are things that happen. From day one there have been discussions but in the end this also helps you to improve. But my goal is to work hard and to divide the least as possible.

The support of Laporta is a plus?
Yes, because many of the things that have been done are linked to the president, and that is something the club members will take into account. Positive messages always add up, and those of the president of FC Barcelona even more.

After the spying scandal or the support of Laporta for Godall, you based your decision not to resign on the sense of responsibility. Do you think people will understand that message and not think that you wanted to stay at all cost?
The easy thing in a difficult situation is to step down and to write a book. The hardest thing is to stay at the club, to hold on and to continue working for the good of the club. Barça is more important than my personal image. There have been times when my body was asking to let everything go, but my sense of responsibility has prevailed.

What kind of campaign do you foresee? Will it be a one-on-one with Rosell?
That is one of the possibilities, but we must respect all those who want to form a candidacy. But at this moment the club member is interested in the next league game and in the Champions League. We have many possibilities in the two competitions, we are also in the Final Four in basketball, in the European quarter-finals in handball, in the final with six in roller hockey... It can be an excellent year.

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

Read more:
Ferrer invites Godall and Sala to join him
Cartoon: With dramatic affect
Ferrer: "I know how do this"

interview: david torras and joan domènech

The Pundit: Antonio Franco on weak points Laporta

« As a leader, Laporta has shown two weak points: he hasn't been able to keep his board team united nor to organize his succession in a proper way. »

Antonio Franco,
El Periódico

check more pundit talk

The Pundit: Xavier Bosch on support Laporta for Ferrer

« As the candidate of the laportism, Ferrer should now be very careful. The hugs of the bear can give more shelter than anything else, but sometimes they leave you without the air that is necessary to breathe. »

Xavier Bosch,
El Periódico

check more pundit talk

The Catalan Cave: Joan Domenech (El Periodico)

in this section, we ask catalan and spanish sports journalists five questions about the elections for president of fc barcelona. today: joan domènech from catalan newspaper el periódico.


1. What is the biggest obstacle for a pact between Ferran Soriano and Alfons Godall?
I think there is none and if they don't reach an agreement, I would think it's a matter of strategy. It would be to the advantage of both. I think that Soriano wouldn't have a chance to win the elections on his own and if he teams up with Godall they would mutually reinforce each other.

2. Why is Sandro Rosell at this moment the big favourite?
Because ha has been able to prepare his candidacy for the last five years. Because he has known the club from within and because he has observed from outside what has been done well and what has been done badly. Because he has knowledge of the football industry, because he's a smart guy and, I suppose, has surrounded himself with smart people. And also because he can still count on the charisma and the prestige he gained when he was vice-president.

3. Jaume Ferrer is closer to Godall-Soriano or to Rosell?
He should be closer to Godall but some people from that candidacy alienate him. He wants to be the alternative to the two and he will distance himself from both.

4. Xavier Sala i Martín is an asset or a liability for Alfons Godall?
I am unaware about the image Sala i Martín in general has among the social mass of Barça. I do know the image he has in a more limited circle, which is that of the journalists, and that is not very good. I suppose he will be an asset for Godall because of his economic knowledge and because he could serve as "the bad guy" in the debates; he could be a liability if he puts too much emphasis on that bad guy image and overuses the haughty tone that he sometimes displays when he talks.

5. Is it possible that certain media or individual journalists will openly support a candidate?
Journalists may have their sympathies, but media will show a preference based on the sympathies their bosses have towards a candidate, not on that of the journalists on the field. Possibly some media will openly choose. It has happened before.

THE EXTRAS If you were a club member of Barça, who would you vote for or certainly not vote for?
With four months to go before the elections, I'm not choosing any of them. They all have something I like and something I don't like. If I would be a member, things would not be clear either. I would care a lot about maintaining the current sports model.

All your possessions are at stake. Give the top-3 of the elections on 13 June.
I would put a very small part on Rosell-Godall-Ferrer.

Thank you for this interview and your time. Good luck in covering the rest of the season and the elections.

read the previous episodes of this series:
francisco ávila (efe) - miquel pellicer (el mundo deportivo) - edu polo (ona fm) - abraham clotet (sport) - victor lozano (onda cero) - sergi de juan (el 9 esportiu) - cristian pulina (eurosport)

Rosell signs well-known late night show host

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has closed a deal with Catalan television production company El Terrat of Catalan late night show host Andreu Buenafuente (picture).

El Terrat would become responsable for the communication of the project of the former Barcelona sports vice-president. Buenafuente has meanwhile confirmed the news through his Twitter account.

The company is said to have already started working on a campaign that will reportedly be based on fair play and that won't look for the confrontation with the other candidates who will run for president in the elections on 13 June.

Read more:
Benedito signs ex-campaign director Laporta
Rosell continues to be favourite for the gamblers
Laporta meets with Obama campaign advisers

Soriano dines with former board colleagues

Several Catalan media report that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano has on Thursday evening held a dinner at his house in Barcelona to discuss his participation in the elections for president of FC Barcelona in June.

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that all seven board members who left the club together with Soriano in 2008 were present: former vice-presidents Albert Vicens and Marc Ingla, and former board members Xavier Cambra, Antoni Rovira, Clàudia Vives-Fierro, Evarist Murtra and Josep Lluís Vilaseca. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Murtra didn't take part.

Read more:
What will the original 2003 board members do?
The Board Movements (2003-2009)
What will Evarist Murtra do?

on the picture (front row, from left to right): marc ingla, antoni rovira, ferran soriano, clàudia vives-fierro, josep lluis vilaseca, evarist murtra, xavier cambra

Lillo looking back at 2003 election campaign

In an interview with Catalan newspaper El Periódico, Almería manager Juan Manuel Lillo talked about the elections campaign of 2003 when he was, together with current Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, part of the candidacy of Lluís Bassat:

"Pep called me and invited me to work with him. I never ask him what something is about. I don't even think about it. I go wherever needed. And when he proposed me to become the coach of Barça, what was there to think about! I also knew Lluís, so everything was very simple.

It is true that we focused all our attention on what we would do when we would win the elections, so that we didn't do anything to actually win. We were only thinking about and for Barça. That's Pep, more culé than the flag pole at the Camp Nou.

We didn't mention a single name, not regarding transfers, or coaches, or anything. We wanted that if people voted for us, it would be because of an idea, a project. We did not want the elections to be a catwalk of transfers. We maintained that policy, knowing it could play against us.

In the end, you think that if that was what the member decided, it just was not the right time for us to enter the club. Besides, all the people that were part of the candidacy - Lluís, Roca, Alemany, Pep - had very busy lives so that that the next day they just went on with what they were doing. Which is the proof of the integrity of all of them."

Read more:
Lillo would have been coach under Bassat
Could Guardiola be a future president?
Bassat: "Laporta invented Beckham transfer"

Minguella-Medina project still looking for a leader

Although all media sources agree that Catalan lawyer Pau Molins [picture] has been offered to head the candidacy that is being set up by former Barcelona presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina (read more here), there is uncertainty about his reaction to the proposal.

Spanish news agency Europa Press claims that sources close to Molins confirmed that the lawyer, who feels "very related to the club", is thinking about the offer and that he wants to take the time necessary to make the decision, which could be more than one week.

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that Molins, who would be very interested in the proposal, will decide in one or two weeks time. The offer would have been made to him last week during a meeting with Minguella and a group of club members.

Catalan news site E-notícies claims that Minguella, Medina and Molins had a dinner on Thursday 19 February. The answer would be expected for next week. If Molins accepts the offer, Minguella would become the sports vice-president of the list and Medina the social vice-president.

A source close to the Minguella-Medina project confirmed yesterday evening to this blog that there has indeed been an offer but that Molins didn't yet give a final answer. We were also told that, contrary to previous news reports (read more here), Catalan businessman Jordi Roche, the former president of the Catalan football federation, would not be part of this project.

Spanish news agency EFE claims that it looks like the deal with Molins won't go through - despite a source of the project being quoted as saying that the lawyer would be "a very valid" candidate - because Molins wouldn't be able to combine the campaign with his job. His defense of Catalan business man Fèlix Millet in a major corruption scandal (read more here) could also play a role: "That wouldn't be positive publicity in case he would be our candidate."

The group would now keep on working to find a candidate and announce a name in the next two to three weeks, with the source explaining: "The offer to Molins doesn't mean that we already have a clear idea, because we still have to assess a lot of things, not only about the candidate but also about the rest of the team.

I want to make clear that we are not selling the leadership of our group by auction. We are just talking with a lot of people and, for whatever reason, the names of two [the other being that of catalan journalist xavier bosch] of the many members we have considered have been leaked to the public."

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that Molins already rejected the offer to lead the candidacy because of professional reasons – the Millet case and the opening of a new office in Madrid - but that he did accept to be part of the list. The group would continue to search for a prestigious consensus figure to become the candidate.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Molins has already rejected the offer and that Medina and Minguella continue to look for a candidate that has never before been directly involved in an election process, although it's not excluded that one of the two would in the end be the candidate. The final list should be ready in April.

Medina is quoted by the paper as saying: "We want to assemble a project that could be a third way between laportas and anti-laportistas and that unites the Barcelona fans. That's why the choice of the candidate isn't a fight and won't turn into an auction. We're not in a hurry, there's a lot of pre-campaign and campaign left and we don't want to take part in the battles."

Read more:
Lawyer offered to lead Minguella-Medina project
Catalan journalist rejects offer to run for president
Medina will again take part in the elections

Godall and Ferrer no longer part of 'core board'

Catalan newspaper El Periódico claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has excluded Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall, Jaume Ferrer and, possibly, Albert Perrín, from taking part in the meetings of the Delegate Commission, the club organ that meets almost weekly and takes the majority of the key decisions.

Since the election date was announced at the end of January, the Delegate Commission hadn't been organized because of the tensions inside the club ahead of the elections. Laporta has now reportedly decided that, starting today, the meetings will again take place but that the number of people allowed to assist the meetings will be reduced.

Spanish news agency EFE confirms that Godall, Ferrer and Perrín are no longer part of the Delegate Commission. Club sources explained that Laporta has taken the decision to avoid possible misunderstandings as a result of the fact that the two presidential candidates would keep on playing an active role in the highest executive body of the club.

EFE claims that the decision has caused some unrest in the board, especially amongst the directors close to presidential candidate Ferrer, with one of the affected people telling the agency: "The measure is only taken because Laporta no longer wants to have Ferrer by his side and that is why he has decided to throw him out of the meeting.

He has put Godall in the same 'pack' to give an sense of logic to the decision, but it's just an electoral move to try to limit the possibilities of Ferrer and to benefit Godall. This is just another inconsistency of Laporta. Why don't they just throw us out of the board? This maneuver doesn't make sense apart from the intention of Laporta to eliminate Ferrer."

The Delegate Commission would from now on consist of six people: president Joan Laporta, economic vice-president Joan Boix, sports vice-president Rafael Yuste, treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, board secretary Josep Cubells and chief executive Joan Oliver.


Article 34 of the statutes of FC Barcelona deals with the Delegate Commission and reads as follows: "Within the Board of Directors, a Delegate Commission may be constituted containing a maximum of two thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, which will be made up of members designated by the President and which must necessarily include the President, a Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

The Delegate Commission will meet at the behest of the President as many times as necessary and will have the following functions:

a) To study and prepare the items that are to be subjected to the Board of Directors.
b) To provisionally adopt any decision that is the competence of the Board of Directors, when for reasons of urgency it is not possible to wait until the next meeting to be called, under the obligation that the Board will be informed of this at the immediately following session and its ratification will be obtained.
c) To make decisions regarding any matters that have been expressly delegated to it by the board of Directors and to inform about these at the next meeting of the same."

Read more:
Ferrer: "Sala started the division in the board"
Godall: "We believe in the North-American market"
Former vice-president Franquesa to support Ferrer

The Quote: Sandro Rosell

"I remember that, when I was a kid, every Sunday we had dinner at my grandmother's house. In the morning, I accompanied her to the mass, and in the afternoon, in those good old days when the games always began at five on Sunday, I left for the Barça stadium with my grandfather, my father and my uncle."


Sandro Rosell,
Barcelona presidential candidate

read more election quotes here

Godall: "I'm not the puppet of Laporta"

Barcelona first vice-president and presidential candidate Alfons Godall gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.


Do you understand that the suspicions are now growing that the spying of the vice-presidents (read more here) happened for electoral purposes? Coincidentally, you were the only one who was not investigated.
People have the right to think the worst if they want so. I wasn't the object of these investigations or these studies because at that time I was out of the electoral race. But I recognize that it was a sad chain of errors. I want to learn from the mistakes, and also from this one.

Having said that, unfortunately, when someone gets involved in the entourage of Barça at whatever level, he should accept that his private and professional life will be analyzed and often with unclear purposes.

Yes, but you didn't have to undergo it.
Now I didn't, but they did investigate me before: in 1996, when we started to make some noise with the 'Elefant Blau' [barcelona opposition group], when we took part in the 2000 elections and again in 2003, and during our time in office.

I know about it because I have been informed, for example by banks with whom I work, that there have been individuals or companies that have collected information about my business and financial situation, I imagine as a part of some study or audit.

But that didn't come from within the club. Would you accept to be investigated now for your own "security"?
I have no objection at all to be investigated if they want so because my life is very normal and I think I have very little dirty laundry to hide. It is true that there is always a more intimate circle, namely the family, where it is very annoying to feel being watched.

Why is a joint candidacy with Jaume Ferrer not possible when you say that you get along well with him? Because of the continuity of chief executive Joan Oliver?
The director general has done a brilliant management job in very difficult economic times. I like his efficiency and I am a strong supporter of him staying at the club.

Is it true that one of the reasons is that you don't want to include directors Albert Perrín, Jacint Borràs and Josep Anton Colomer in your list?
I don't want to be a prisoner of the board of directors I might have in the future. I think that a candidate has to chose people with whom he connects well and therefore I ask the freedom needed to make that decision. I want to make room for new blood and for a policy of alliances with other people.

This isn't about names, I don't want to personalize things by telling who I exclude. I want to choose my travel companions freely and according to my own preferences, and so far we haven't been able to find the right balance that could lead to this agreement with Jaume.

It's not only a matter of winning the elections, although this is of course the most important point, but also of being able to govern in a stable way after that.

You always speak about Ferran Soriano in a praising tone and without excluding a pact. Don't you think that Laporta would feel betrayed?
I told Laporta that I want to have the total freedom to develop the strategy of alliances that seems best to me. This shows from the start that I'm not the puppet of Laporta, nor the representative of anyone. I have my own personality and my own project. I hope and I am convinced that Jan will understand my choices, even when he's not feeling the same about them.

On the other hand you always kept distance from Rosell.
It's not a matter of persons but of moments and of reasons why they left. Rosell left early because in fact he didn’t share our sporting model. I think he wanted to be the sporting model himself.

Soriano on the other hand left a lot later, he shared the model and his reason was the interpretation of the vote of no confidence. He and the others felt morally obliged to resign and I respect that, although in my opinion they were wrong.

Do you think that both you and Ferrer don’t have to put down a bank guarantee?
I'm not considering the possibility of having to guarantee since the competent administration and custodian of the guarantee, which is the LFP, the Professional Football League, tells us that we don’t have to do it. And it's the same in the case of Ferrer.

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

Read more:
Godall officially confirms presidential candidacy
Boix will not choose between Godall and Ferrer
Team member Rosell asks Godall to resign

interview: david torras

Poll result: Should Guardiola stay no matter what?

Guardiola should continue at Barça no matter who the next president is?

Yes 91%
No 9%

total votes: 3238
start date poll: 28 january 2010
poll method: internet, free participation
source: el periódico

Godall: "I have a great feeling of relief"

Barcelona first vice-president and presidential candidate Alfons Godall gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.


Has your life changed a lot since you announced your decision to stand for election?
Yes, I have a great feeling of relief because I've taken a weight off my mind. I had already decided for a while to take this step and I was looking for the best moment to do so. And I did not want to wait any longer.

It seems as if everything happened very fast. We don't even know yet when the elections will be (note: the interview dates from before the announcement on friday that the elections will be held on sunday 13 june).
I wanted to clarify some things after a series of speculations regarding my role in the elections. My wish is to be pre-candidate, candidate and president, if the club members want so. It was time to stop all the uncertainty and the rumours. And my desire is to continue until the end.

When Laporta presented you as candidate to the board last season, you turned the offer down with the argument that you didn't want to lose your private life. Then there was a consensus, which isn't the case anymore, and you will anyway lose a part of your freedom.
At that time, my personal situation was different. There have been developments in my private life that have made me reconsider the decision. I also believe that everything was premature at that moment and that the consensus within the board was a false consensus.

Laporta has publicly supported your candidacy, a gesture that made it clear that he is not impartial.
I'm sure that the president Joan Laporta will be fair, just and guarantee an exemplary election process. That is what he wants and I know he will do it that way. Jan assisted the event, first as a friend and then as a board colleague.

That is why I invited him and why he accepted, as did some who will support me in the elections and others who still do not know what they will do. I appreciate the support of the president and I don't think that his presence is a reason to criticize him.

Do you intend to offer him a position if you're elected?
It should be clear that he cannot be on any list nor have any position in the board during the next term. There are people who have been speculating about a later appointment, but that is not an option and I would not do it either way.

But I believe that in the whole of Catalonia nor in the entourage of Barça, there's someone who knows as well as Laporta the authorities, the people and the institutions that are governing international football.

We have not yet talked about this, but if we win I plan to offer him some form of representation or delegation of Barça's interest at FIFA, UEFA, ECA or the local federations, where he has a lot of influence and where he has earned a general respect. Everyone admires our club model.

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

Read more:
Godall officially confirms presidential candidacy
Boix will not choose between Godall and Ferrer
Team member Rosell asks Godall to resign

interview: david torras

The Quote: Sandro Rosell

"I feel a little spied upon."


Sandro Rosell,
Barcelona presidential candidate

read more election quotes here

Two options left for Soriano

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano is still considering what his final strategy will be ahead of the upcoming elections for president of FC Barcelona.

There would at this moment be two options left: or Soriano will run himself for president, or he will support the candidacy of current Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall.

The key issue is reportedly his job as chairman of Spanish airline Spanair. Soriano will be a candidate if he can find an agreement with the shareholders who appointed him earlier this year. If that's not the case, Soriano would support the continuity candidacy that will be lead by Godall, with whom Soriano already held several contacts (read more here).

Catalan newspaper El Periódico on the other hand claims that there is at this moment no chance at all that Soriano will take part in the elections as a candidate or as a collaborator of another presidential candidate because of his job at the Catalan-owned airline.

Read more:
Soriano meeting with Godall and Sala
Poll result: Who would you vote for today?
Soriano scoring in Japan with management book