[picture] Josep Maria Minguella at the fair

Former Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella, part of the candidacy of Santiago Salvat, on campaign.

Salvat wants scouting network of ex-players

Former Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella [picture, on the right], who will become sports vice-president if Santiago Salvat is elected as president, has said at a press conference that he wants to set up a global network of talent scouts:

"We should globalize our youth academy and that's why we need to have a red of people around the world who can inform us about promising players of 12-13 years old. We need to find the players who will be the new Messi or the new Ronaldinho in a few years time.

Former players like Eusebio, Nadal, Víctor Muñoz, Stoichkov, Moratalla, Rojo or Esteban are possible scouts. I think it's important these people know the club and are honest. We need to have full confidence int he people who are going to watch the players, because you cannot do this with people who bring you suspected players like Keirrison."

Read more:
Salvat talking with ex-players Stoichkov and Ferrer
Ingla wants global youth academy
Plaza considers Alexanko as sports director

The Quotes: Guixa, Minguella, Soriano, Salvat, Rosell

"We will all have difficulties to get the 2.095 signatures. The decision of Laporta that didn't allow us to collect signatures at the last league game has hurt us. We'll have to wait and see what happens."

Jaume Guixà


"The only thing I would ask Txiki if he wants to continue is that he would clearly explain me how and why Henrique and Keirrison have been transferred."

Josep Maria Minguella


"I don't understand why Sandro Rosell goes to Madrid and declares there that we have a catastrophic debt while that's a lie. We have a debt of around 240 millions, which is less than our opponents."

Ferran Soriano


"Barça should not have links with countries that seem to be a dictatorship."

Santiago Salvat


"I am not against the collective sale of the television rights but only if it doesn't hurt our interests."

Sandro Rosell

read more election quotes here

The Quotes: Perrin, Minguella, Ferrer, Ingla, Rosell

"Ferran Soriano tried a coup. Someone like that shouldn't return to the club."

Albert Perrín


"Someone has a paper that allows him to negotiate the transfers of Xavi and Ibrahimovic."

Josep Maria Minguella


"Rosell would probably prefer to be sports director instead of president."

Jaume Ferrer


"The poll of El Periódico? It will make our win more epic."

Marc Ingla


"There are 300 fan club who have only been created to get tickets. we will clean that up."

Sandro Rosell

read more election quotes here

Minguella and Medina to be vice-presidents Salvat

Speaking at a press conference, Barcelona presidential candidate Santiago Salvat has said that former Barcelona presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella [picture, on the left] and Jordi Medina [picture, second from the right] will become vice-presidents if he's elected as president on 13 June:

"Josep María Minguella will be our sports vice-president. Although he has a huge experience, he will not take any decision on his own, but always with the agreement of the coach. And Jordi Medina, who is one of the strongest people in this candidacy, would become the vice-president of the social area."

Read more:
Salvat wants declaration on personal estates
Medina will be vice-president Salvat
Salvat officially presents his candidacy

Former vice-presidents Ingla and Castells talking

Catalan news site E-notícies claims that former Barcelona vice-presidents Joan Castells (2000-2002) and Marc Ingla (picture - 2003-2008) are holding talks trying to form a joint candidacy ahead of the presidential elections on 13 June.

The remaining problem would be that Castells only wants to join Ingla if he can lead the candidacy. Because of the same reason, the ex-director earlier rejected an offer by Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer. Castells reportedly also didn't accept a proposal by former presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina to be part of their project.

Castells would have told former collaborators about the negotiations with Ingla during a dinner on Monday. He and Ingla would shortly hold a meeting in which they would decide if they will in the end team up. If he doesn't get the support of the team of Ingla, Castells would not take part in the elections, although he could later publicly announce which candidate he prefers.

Joan Castells is the 57-year old chairman and chief executive of Spanish mutual insurance company Fiatc. In 2000, he was a pre-candidate in the elections for president of Barcelona but he ended up joining the candidacy of then vice-president Joan Gaspart.

After Gaspart won the elections, Castells was appointed as economic vice-president of the club. In December 2002, Castels resigned as first vice-president after Gaspart refused to call early elections. In the 2006 elections, Castells decided not to run and supported pre-candidate Jordi Medina.

Read more:
Former director Castells considering election role
Soriano confirms support for Ingla
Former vice-president Castells unlikely candidate

Rexach still thinking about running for president

Asked about the rumours former Barcelona player and coach Carles Rexach would join the candidacy set up by ex-candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina and headed by Catalan businessman Santiago Salvat (read more here), Minguella has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC1 that Rexach didn't yet make a final decision:

"I can't say anything, it's him who should make a decision. Charly is welcome because he's a nice person who appeals to the Barcelona fans but he should make the decision. Someone has told him that he could head a candidacy and he's free to do what he wants. Whatever he does, I will support him, although I think both for him as for us it would be good to team up."

In an interview with Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio had earlier already explained that Rexach is still considering the possibility of running for president himself in upcoming elections which will be held on Sunday 13 June:

"The situation of Charly is very complex because he got involved in Facebook, which has led to some major doubts about what to do since he got the support of over 5.000 members. But how many of those are club members? Those are 5.000 perople who are clicking - or how do you call that - but the important thing is to know how many members there are between them.

Charly is of course important in the entourage of the club, he can atttract votes, but first he should make a decision. I would never reject him, on the contrary, I offer Charly to join me because I think it's a good guy and I would want to have him at my side. But he will decide.

I think that someone is driving him a bit crazy, saying that he has a chance, that they will promote him, that he will win and all that, which makes that he is now in doubt and didn't yet make a decision. I've read that he has said that this week will be decisive. We'll see."

Read more:
Rexach will participate in the elections
Santiago Salvat is Minguella-Medina candidate
Rexach could join Minguella-Medina candidacy

Santiago Salvat is Minguella-Medina candidate

Catalan sports paper sport RAC 1 claims that Santiago "Yago" Salvat will run for president of FC Barcelona in the upcoming elections. The news has meanwhile been confirmed by other media.

Salvat would head the list of the project that has been set up by former presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina (read more here), who have both agreed with the appointment of Salvat as candidate.

A source of the candidacy told Spanish news agency EFE: "A few months ago we got to know each other and in the end he is very motivated and willing to do this. We will all give him our support and he will be presented to the public after the game against Inter next week."

Santiago Salvat, who is 38 years old and a club member for around 25 years and whose family founded in the 19th century the Salvat Editores publishing house in Barcelona, has several business activities, mostly related to marketing and consultancy.

Salvat is managing partner and marketing and financial director of pr and communication agency Pendulum, partner and member of the board of real estate consultant Bruch and owner and general manager of marketing agency Excelsior. Since this month, he is also a member of the board of directors of portfolio management company Interlaken.

Read more:
Minguella-Medina project has found candidate
Lawyer offered to lead Minguella-Medina project
Catalan journalist rejects offer to run for president

Rexach could join Minguella-Medina candidacy

Spanish news agency EFE claims that former Barcelona presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella [picture, on the right] and Jordi Medina [picture, on the left] will in the coming days present their joint candidacy for the presidency of FC Barcelona. Both would have confirmed this to the news agency.

On Wednesday, the electoral council of the candidacy would meet to establish the calendar to follow in the coming weeks, with one of the main events being the presentation of the person who will in the end lead the candidacy.

The candidate of the project would be a 39-year old businessman from the communication sector, who has studied in the United States and who has family ties with a former board member of the club. The candidacy would appear in public in the coming week.

Sources of the Minguella-Medina project also told the news agency that former Barcelona player and coach Carles Rexach, who was considering to head a list himself (read more here), could in the end join this candidacy.

Read more:
Minguella-Medina project has found candidate
Rexach will next week decide on candidacy
Molins rejects offer to lead Minguella-Medina project

Minguella-Medina project has found candidate

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the candidacy that is being set up by former Barcelona candidates Josep Maria Minguella [picture] and Jordi Medina will now definitely take part in the elections for president of FC Barcelona later this year.

The candidacy, that earlier contacted journalist Xavier Bosch (read more here) and lawyer Pau Molins (read more here), would now finally have found the person that will head the list. The presidential candidate would in the end be a 40-year old resident of Barcelona.

Minguella and Medina will reportedly officially present their project and the candidate the week after the Real Madrid-Barcelona game on Saturday 10 April. The main ideas of the candidacy will be explained as well as the intention that they won't attack anybody during the campaign.

Josep Maria Minguella, a 68-year old former player's agent who now mainly acts as a Barcelona pundit for a number of radio and television shows, took part in the 2003 elections, when he ended fifth with 1.867 votes (3,62%). The Catalan supported the 2008 vote of no confidence against the board.

Jordi Medina is a 45-year old Catalan lawyer who was a pre-candidate in the 2003 and 2006 elections but failed twice to collect enough signatures of club members to take part in the final vote. Medina is the chairman of 'Un Crit Valent', an FC Barcelona platform.

Read more:
Minguella project preparing primaries
Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project
Minguella-Medina project still looking for a leader

Minguella project to present new member

Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claims that the candidacy that is being set up by former players' agent and 2003 presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella will soon after the game against Real Madrid next month present a new member.

The person would be a man of between 40 and 45 years old who reportedly has already a large support among Barcelona fans. It's not specified by the paper if this would be the candidate the group has been looking for (read more here).

Josep Maria Minguella, who now mainly acts as a Barcelona pundit for a number of radio and television shows, took part in the 2003 elections, when he ended fifth (out of six contenders) with 1.867 votes (3,62%). The Catalan supported the 2008 vote of no confidence against the board.

Read more:
Molins rejects offer to lead Minguella-Medina project
Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project
Minguella project preparing primaries

The Pundit: Josep Maria Minguella on directors

« The current directors of Barca are first-class actors. Better than Nicholson or Newman. You see them in the president's box, greeting each other, hugging each other, they have dinner together and they seem like a unique group of friends. While, apparently, they are betraying each other, stabbing each other in the back, spying upon each other... Although, it has to be said, always for the good of the club and to "safeguard the neutrality of the institution". »

Josep Maria Minguella,
El Mundo Deportivo

check more pundit talk

Molins rejects offer to lead Minguella-Medina project

Spanish news agency Europa Press claims that Catalan lawyer Pablo 'Pau' Molins has rejected yesterday morning the offer to head the candidacy that is being set up by former Barcelona presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina.

Molins is quoted as saying in a communiqué that, although he likes the idea of a 'third way', he declines the proposal because of professional and personal reasons that don't leave him enough time to campaign or to lead the club. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the criminal lawyer has nevertheless agreed to support the list.

Asked about the rumours linking Molins to his project, former player's agent Josep Maria Minguella has said in interviews with Catalan radio stations Catalunya Ràdio, first, and RAC 1 that he doesn't want to react to the latest news reports:

"Our group has made the decision that until the game against Real Madrid on 10 April we won't talk about or comment on any electoral issues. After that date, we will explain what we could do, who would be involved and so on, but for now we have decide not to talk anymore."

Read more:
Lawyer offered to lead Minguella-Medina project
Minguella project preparing primaries
Minguella-Medina project still looking for a leader

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

Lawyer offered to lead Minguella-Medina project

Catalan television channel TV3 claims that the candidacy former Barcelona presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella and Jordi Medina have been working on continues to look for a popular person who could lead the project (read more here).

The group of Minguella and Medina would now have offered 47-year old Catalan criminal lawyer Pau Molins (picture) to head the list, although no final decision has yet been made.

Pau Molins is at this moment widely known for his defense of Catalan businessman and former Barcelona director Fèlix Millet in a major corruption scandal (read more here). His brother, businessman and politician Joaquim Molins, has in the past reportedly also been offered to lead a candidacy, ahead of the 1997 elections.

Read more:
Minguella project preparing primaries
Former director Millet considers being candidate
Medina continues to work on candidacy

Minguella project preparing primaries

Asked about his role in the upcoming presidential elections, former Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that the candidacy he is working on is in the process of deciding who could head the list:

"We don't yet have the person who will represent the project. As we have said, we want to organize primaries and we're now looking who want to take part in those primaries. There could be four or five possible names and then we'll see who will be chosen as the best option. If that happens, we'll tell you and if not, we go home and that would also be fine.

It's true that if you look at the actual pre-candidates, one gets a bit scared. In a good way, of course. But I want our project to succeed. I think the club member of Barça would also like it that there are several options, several ways of understanding and leading the club, and then it's up to the member to decide."

Read more:
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Medina continues to work on candidacy
Llaurado admits talks with Minguella and Rexach

Project Minguella to be announced next month

Asked about his role in the upcoming elections, former presidential candiate Josep Maria Minguella has repeated in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he is working on a candidacy together with a large group of Barcelona fans:

"We're working on a project and it's very possible it will lead to a concrete candidacy that could be announced in one month.

Our group of around 50 people mostly consists of liberal professionals and includes important people of the city of Barcelona. This group has been meeting for some time, but I cannot give you any names.

Our ideology will be totally different to that of most other projects. The starting point is that it's not good for Barça that the future would be decided between the 'pro-laportistas' and the 'anti-laportistas', because there are other options.

In principle I won't be the head of the candidacy. That person will be chosen by the group through primaries. Why wouldn't I lead the project myself? Well, I lived the experience already and I can tell you that the world of football is a nest of jealousy.

For many years, I dedicated myself to this job - that of player's agent - of which I am very proud. But there are people who give more credit to the belief, which is not true, that I've made money from Barça than to the fact that I have brought Maradona, Stoichkov, Romario, Rivaldo and Messi to Barça, the last one for free. But people don't value it, so what can I do..."

Josep Maria Minguella, a 68-year old former player's agent who now mainly acts as a Barcelona pundit for a number of radio and television shows, took part in the 2003 elections, when he ended fifth with 1.867 votes (3,62%). The Catalan supported the 2008 vote of no confidence against the board.

Read more:
Minguella confirms talks with Medina and Majo
Minguella: "Laporta didn't keep his promises"
Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project

Medina continues to work on candidacy

Asked about his role in the upcoming elections, twice presidential pre-candidate Jordi Medina has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that he keeps on working trying to form a candidacy: "We're working on a project, but it's not yet sure it will lead to an actual candidacy.

Because of a communication problem with another member of the project, Jordi Majó, who could have been one of the leading figures, prefers not to keep on investing time and effort in it. Josep Maria Minguella, myself and other people continue to work hard.

We don't know who will lead the candidacy. It could be Josep Maria, myself or none of the two. That is something we're discussing, analyzing and if we can launch this project, the candidate will be the one we agree on to be the most suited person.

We have been talking with many people, also from outside our group. Some are still considering it, some have rejected the offer for personal reasons - something we understand - and with others we're still talking.

Xavier Bosch? That has been published, so I can now confirm that we have been talking with him but because of his professional situation it wasn't possible. Charly Rexach? I didn't talk with Charly personally, but I know there have been some meetings and dinners that I didn't attend. He has the profile of a good candidate but I don't have more information on that.

It's true that we plan to come out as late as possible because we first want to work hard, prepare the program, not reveal anything. We could start thinking about a calendar when the final decision to take part has been made but nothing will be organized or announced before the month of April."

Read more:
Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project
Catalan journalist rejects offer to run for president
Medina will again take part in the elections

Majo stepping out of Minguella-Medina project

Catalan sports paper Sport reports that former presidential candidate Jordi Majó (picture, on the left) will not join a presidential candidacy that would include, among other people, former presidential candidates Josep Maria Minguella (picture, on the right) and Jordi Medina (read more here).

The group of people would have been holding contacts for a while trying to form a candidacy. The idea is said to have been that the three former candidates would become vice-presidents and that they would offer another person to lead the project.

Catalan journalist Xavier Bosch was reportedly the first to reject the offer to head the candidacy because of personal reasons (read more here) and later contacts that were started with two former players also didn't yet lead to concrete results.

Majó would now have finally decided not to take part in the candidacy because he don't believe any longer in the project, and would yesterday have informed his entourage about his decision. The Catalan businessman confirmed the news to the paper:

"I have spoken with pre-candidates and potential pre-candidates and if I now reveal the project with Minguella that is because he has been the first to disclose it publicly. I would have preferred that it wouldn't come to light, as this forces me to take a position and I have decided not to continue.

I maintain a good personal relationship with Josep Maria, but there are differences of opinion and I do not feel comfortable in a candidacy that advances in a way that doesn't convince me. I think my decision is the most honest thing I can do."

Read more:
Minguella confirms talks with Medina and Majo
Guixa: "The most powerful candidacy is ours"
Majo considering to participate in the elections

Majo, Minguella and Medina working on candidacy

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that former presidential candidates Jordi Majó, Jordi Medina and Josep Maria Minguella (picture, from left to right) are continuing to hold talks trying to form a joint candidacy and take part in the elections for president of FC Barcelona in June (read more here).

All three the former candidates would be willing to team up but no final decision has yet been made. After the Barcelona board decided to only hold the elections after the end of the season, on 13 June, Majó, Minguella and Medina would not be in a hurry to take a stand on their participation in the elections.

Jordi Majó is a 60-year old agricultural businessman who finished third, out of six candidates, in the 2003 elections. Behind Joan Laporta and Lluís Bassat, Majó obtained 2.490 votes (4,82%). In 2006, he considered to be a candidate but he ended up giving his support to Jaume Guixà.

Josep Maria Minguella, a 68-year old former player's agent who now mainly acts as a Barcelona pundit for a number of radio and television shows, took part in the 2003 elections, when he ended fifth with 1.867 votes (3,62%). The Catalan supported the 2008 vote of no confidence against the board.

Jordi Medina is a 45-year old Catalan lawyer who was a pre-candidate in the 2003 and 2006 elections but failed twice to collect enough signatures of club members to take part in the final vote. Medina is the chairman of 'Un Crit Valent', an FC Barcelona platform.

Read more:
Minguella confirms talks with Medina and Majo
Majo considering to participate in the elections
Medina confirms he's working on a candidacy