The Quotes: Ferrer, Perrin, Salvat, Rosell, Plaza

"There are 30.000 new club members who joined during this mandate, who never go the stadium and who are difficult to control."

Jaume Ferrer


"The lawyers of Alexandre are the same ones who for years have launched claims against the club."

Albert Perrín


"In the coming days we will make things public that will change the balance."

Santiago Salvat


"When I was born, they gave me the name Alessandro, but when they wanted to register the name, the government only accepted names included in a list of saints. So they had to change it to Alejandro, although in the end it became Alexandre."

Sandro Rosell


"Sandro Rosell has already copied two of our proposals, a youth stand and an own travel agency. Nonetheless, the media have claimed the ideas were his."

Alexis Plaza

read more election quotes here

Seven board members continue until 30 June

The resignations of Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall, Jaume Ferrer [picture, on the right], Joan Boix and Albert Perrín, and of Barcelona directors Jordi Torrent, Alfonso Castro, Patrick Auset, Magda Oranich, Josep Ignasi Macià and Xavier Bagués have yesterday been accepted during a meeting of the Barcelona board.

The ten members of the board were forced to resign because they will be officially part of a candidacy in the presidential elections on Sunday 13 June. Apart from Godall, who supports former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla, all other directors who left are part of the candidacy of Jaume Ferrer.

A board of seven people will now govern the club until 30 June, with president Joan Laporta sports vice-president Rafael Yuste [picture, on the left], secretary Josep Cubells, treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, and directors Jacint Borràs, Josep Anton Colomer and Maria Elena Fort staying in office. Sala i Martín is expected to leave the club at the end of this term, while the other six support the candidacy of Jaume Ferrer.

Read more:
Sala i Martin to leave the club in July
Ferrer gets new support from board members
Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections

The Quotes: Soriano, Perrin, Salvat, Rosell, Ferrer

"A youth player who arrives at the first team has cost us 2 to 3 million euros."

Ferran Soriano


"Sandro Rosell is a balloon that is deflating."

Albert Perrín


"We will pass the cut. We have already around 1.300 signatures."

Santiago Salvat


"The figure of an honorary president doesn't exist in the club statutes. So the members will first have to decide if they want this and then if they want Johan Cruyff."

Sandro Rosell


"Our campaign will cost around 1 million euros."

Jaume Ferrer

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

The Quote: Albert Perrin

"I think there won't be elections. And not because of pacts between candidates."


Albert Perrín,
Barcelona institutional vice-president

read more election quotes here

Soriano preparing candidacy

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano has in the last weeks intensified the preparation of his candidacy ahead of the presidential elections in June.

Soriano would have decided to run for president although the candidacy wouldn't be announced soon. The chairman of Spanair is now reportedly finishing his election program and the composition of his board team and management structure.

Among other things, Soriano would have met with the seven board members who left the club together with him in 2008 (read more here). Of those ex-directors, former vice-presidents Albert Vicens and Marc Ingla would certainly be willing to join his candidacy, others are still considering the options and one of them would not actively take part but give his support to the project.

Soriano would also be open for current board members to become a part of his candidacy although under the condition that Soriano stays the presidential candidate. Catalan sports weekly paper Gol claimed a couple of weeks ago that Soriano has already a deal with the candidacy of current Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall.

Of the candidacy of Godall, Soriano would want to add Godall, Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín and director Magda Oranich to his team. He would also try to include vice-president Jaume Ferrer and director Alfons Castro in his project. Soriano would not count on vice-presidents Joan Boix, Rafael Yuste and Albert Perrín, nor on directors Josep-Ignasi Macià and Xavier Bagués.

Read more:
All options are still open for Soriano
How much does it cost to become a director?
Soriano dines with former board colleagues

The Quote: Albert Perrin

"I might agree with the statement that Alfons Godall could in the end team up with Ferran Soriano. I know Godall for many years and he's someone who has difficulties to deal with the pressure."


Albert Perrín,
Barcelona institutional vice-president

read more election quotes here

Which role could Cruyff play in the elections?

Asked if former Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff could actively take part in the upcoming presidential elections, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín has said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that this won't happen:

"He will not intervene. I'm totally sure he won't be part of the team of anyone, as sports vice-president or whatever.

I can guarantee you that. At the very most, and I think can say this, he might make a statement against someone the last day. Against Rosell? I don't know."

Read more:
Laporta wanted to replace Rosell by Cruyff
Rexach confirms offer to run for president
Former president Nunez to run with support Cruyff

Perrin: "Nobody is touched by the magic stick"

Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC 1, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín (picture, on the right) has repeated that it will be very difficult to form one united board candidacy, although he said that this is still his wish:

"I would like to have one candidacy and I will do anything I can to have a common project. But of course, if one of the parties doesn't want that, then there wouldn't be nothing more to say. I understand that for a lot of people it doesn't seem logical not to have one list but I can't do much about it.

Jaume Ferrer has never asked for anything, he was open to negotiate. But Alfons Godall sees things differently. If he wants to lead and puts his conditions on the table, I have to respect that but maybe you should ask it to him why he's creating all those obstacles.

I only read statements from Alfons Godall in which he claims a leadership that nobody handed to him. All vice-presidents and directors, being it Jaume Ferrer or Alfons Godall or Joan Boix or myself or whoever, have the right to speak out. Nobody has been touched by the magic stick. Everybody can have aspirations but he's already putting forward his conditions and that's where the problems start.

I think that one candidacy is very difficult but I promise I will do all that is possible to form one single candidacy. We will try to convince Godall that we're a group and that we should stay united. In any case, we're going to try to separate the management of the club and the elections."

Read more:
Perrin: "Godall doesn't want me in his candidacy"
Ferrer confirms that he will run for president
Albert Perrin appointed as new vice-president

Perrin: "Godall doesn't want me in his candidacy"

Asked about the upcoming presidential elections, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín has admitted in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that it will be almost impossible to form one united board candidacy because of a division in the board of directors:

"Godall doesn't want me in his candidacy. There's no click anymore, although there was before and certainly from my side. I have always been close to Jaume Ferrer and Godall is sectarian, he only wants to deal with certain people and we don't think that's logical.

There were ten people who defended the president until the very end after the vote of no confidence and it cannot be that this unity has now been broken. What about Laporta? I've spoken to him lately and we were sincere.

Will things be difficult between the board members from now on? It won't be easy but we're all grown-up people and we will try to deal with things as good as possible. We're certainly not planning to leave the board. If you're inside, you're in charge and you know how things are functioning. While if you're out, you don't know anything."

Read more:
Jaume Ferrer will run for president
Godall: "The decision has been made"
Perrin: "Ferrer could accept being the second man"

Perrin: "Txiki will take a sabbatical year"

Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


You have been working for many years in the entourage of the club. First as member of the opposition and now as vice president. What does this last year mean for you?
It is the climax of the work done over many years to change the dynamics of the club. I was a staunch opponent at the time of mister Nuñez [president from 1978 to 2000], whom I respect. I think he did many good things for the club and if he would have left after Wembley [the first european cup won by barcelona in 1992], he would have been a great president. To have been able to be part of this explosion of the squad and to win all these titles has been a great satisfaction.

At that time, when you were in the opposition, would you have thought that you would live all this?
Not in my wildest dreams.

What do the tears of Pep Guardiola in Abu Dhabi represent?
These are the same tears that ran down my face, that of the president, of everyone. We all had to deal with very strong pressure and that's why the tears came. For us, the World Cup for Clubs was very important, it was the only trophy we didn't have. And it also represented winning six titles.

And you finished the year in Zurich attending the gala that crowned Messi as the best footballer in the world?
The gala evening in Zurich was very important for our football academy and for the country because Barça showed that our sporting model works. It's a reward for the whole academy. Three boys formed at the club since childhood are among the top five players in the world and one of them, Messi, is the best.

It is a recognition for all those people who never appear in the papers and who are doing the groundwork. These three boys have gotten there because so many people have given their very best. It was the cherry on the cake.

The big merit of this board is to have started two winning cycles in a row?
I have a special admiration for our sports director. In 2003, I said that the best signing Laporta had done was that of Txiki. It is an honest person, hard-working, who knows the market and the philosophy of the club. These two cycles have followed each other thanks to him.

You've said that you think he'll leave the club.
He has been very badly treated all those years. People said that Barça should sign Monchi [the sports director of sevilla]. He had to deal with a lot and I think that independent of who wins the elections, he will take a sabbatical year.

What was the most special moment of this year?
It's very difficult to choose one moment, because each trophy has been special. There is nevertheless one that, when you now look back, has been very important: the penalty saved by Pinto in Mallorca. Without that save, we wouldn't have lived all this.

How do you see the future of Guardiola?
He has a personality that is so strong, he is so intelligent, that he will be here as long as he wants. The successes are due to his intelligence and because he's a man of the club. He didn't have to follow any course to get to know the club...

It's obvious that we would like him to renew, but he will do that when he wants it. And we can be sure he will not move to Madrid. He doesn't move because of money. He must feel comfortable in his work, and here he is.

Do you see him as the Alex Ferguson of the club?
I think so, but he has his own personality and he will be who he wants to be.

this is the third and last part of this interview.

You can read the previous parts of the interview here:
Perrin: "Ferrer could accept being the second man"
Perrin: "Laporta deserves a statue"

interview: ferran correas and dani colmena

Perrin: "Laporta deserves a statue"

Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


When you entered the board [november 2005], you said that you would leave together with Laporta. What made you change your mind?
If I don't remember it wrong, what I said was that depending on who would continue, I would leave with Jan. From my humble position, if Ferran Soriano would have continued and would have been the head of the continuity candidacy, I would not have continued.

I have nothing against him but there was no feeling between us. And these things come from both sides. He didn't have it with me either. So I said that because at that time Soriano was the one who could head the continuism. With Ferrer, however, I do have that feeling.

It has been said that Soriano could join one of the continuity candidacies.
I say this clearly. If Soriano joins the board candidacy from which I'm a part, I'll go home.

Two board candidacies would be very bad for the continuism?
It wouldn't be good. If we respect the project, and we believe the project is still under development, it would be good if there wouldn't be two candidacies. And it's clear that it will have to be one of those two candidacies who should continue the project. No one of those who left should claim these successes because they abandoned the ship. The six trophies have been won by this board.

You are one of the few directors of this board who have spoken well of Sandro Rosell.
If I start from the point that he's a person who likes the club, who wants the best for the club, I have to respect him. Making the decision to run for president of Barça is something very important.

What Joan Laporta has lived during these years has been very tough, starting with the Boixos [radical supporters] who threatened him and his sons, needing the protection of bodyguards, having problems at home... Being president is very hard, so the person who decides to become that deserves all the respect. And I think that Sandro would be a good president, yes.

Laporta deserves a triumphant exit.
Next to the statue of Kubala, they should make one of him. What he has done for this club is spectacular. You should look back at where we came from. From a bad economic situation, that is very good today. The social situation was disastrous, and today the club is loved around the world.

Unicef is an exclusive achievement of the president. There are some who aren't here anymore, who have wanted to claim it. But it's an exclusive achievement of our president. In the board there were people who had doubts about it, including myself. And now we have to congratulate him. At the sporting level, we've just won six trophies.

Should the president stay neutral in case there would be two board candidacies?
He should do what he thinks is right. And if I have something to tell him, I'll say it in private.

You think he'll actively take part in the campaign?
Passivity isn't one of his characteristics. I think that his participation will more or less depend on what is happening outside the club.

How is it to live these last days of the greatest year in the history of Barça?
Sometimes I feel like I'm on a cloud because I find it hard to believe that we won everything we have won. I tell my children not to forget that in 2009 Barça has won six titles because it difficultly will be repeated.

this is the second part of this interview. you can read the first part here. in the coming days you will be able to read the third and alst part of the interview with perrín talking - among other things - about the tears of guardiola and the future of begiristain.

Read more:
Albert Perrin appointed as new vice-president
Godall and Ferrer to meet next week
Vice-president Perrin confirms candidacy Ferrer

interview: ferran correas and dani colmena

Perrin: "Ferrer could accept being the second man"

Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Jaume Ferrer announced on Wednesday that he will be a candidate in the presidential elections. It's no secret that you are supporting him. What are your plans?
We would like that there's only candidacy to come out of this board that wants to continue the project. We will try, but we do not know if it will be possible.

Today, there are no fights inside the board, but we have different ways of thinking, which is actually a good thing in my opinion. Differences are good. We need to talk now and I hope we can reach an agreement so that there will only be one board candidacy. I nevertheless know that it will not be easy.

This candidacy should be headed by Jaume Ferrer?
I would like it to be him because he has the qualities to be a good president, but if it has to be another colleague, we will talk about that. There are several board members who have the skills to be president.

Alfons Godall and Xavier Sala i Martín, who are the key people of the other alternative, would accept Ferrer as the candidate?
I hope so, just like Jaume could accept being the second man. In negotiations all parties must compromise. I don't know what will happen, but there is willingness to talk.

What qualities does Ferrer have?
He's a calm person, who has worked a lot for the club and who knows many areas. He has been treasurer, he has been responsible for marketing and media, for the non-football sections, now for the assets...

He knows the club very well and he also did well in his personal businesses, which is fundamental, because this is after all a big company. It's someone who can deal with a lot of things, who's also great Barcelona fan and a man of this country, which is basic as well.

What about Alfons Godall?
We know each other from the "revolutionary" times at the end of the nineties. I think he's capable, motivated and enthusiastic. Why do I support Ferrer and not Godall? It's a matter of feeling. Maybe in the past few years I have been closer to Jaume.

Chief executive Joan Oliver may be a cause of disagreement between the two sides?
I don't think so. We have a very skilled general director, very intelligent, with an incredible work-rate, which is all very positive for the club.

The way of functioning of a general director depends on who is giving him orders, and with another president he maybe will work differently. Joan Oliver is certainly qualified to be the chief executive of the club.

The whole spying case is already forgotten?
It happened but that's history now and recalling it doesn't lead to anything. We were able to stay united during some very important moments for the club and now that's already in the past.

this is the first part of this interview. in the coming days you will be able to read the rest of the interview with perrín talking - among other things - about ferran soriano and sandro rosell.

Read more:
Albert Perrin appointed as new vice-president
Godall and Ferrer to meet next week
Vice-president Perrin confirms candidacy Ferrer

interview: ferran correas and dani colmena

Vice-president Perrin confirms candidacy Ferrer

Asked about the recent report that Barcelona vice-president Jaume Ferrer will run for president in next year's elections (read more here), Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín has suggested in an interview with Catalan radio stations RAC 1 and Catalunya Ràdio that the information that was published is correct:

"The report was published by a paper that is serious enough to give the news credibility. I didn't talk with Jaume since the publication but I know he wants to head a candidacy. I'm supporting him but I think that within the board there are several people who are capable of continuing this project that started in 2003. But it's a fact that I think that Jaume would be a good candidate.

I think that when we return from Abu Dhabi, the board will have some days to sit down and talk, which was what the president wanted. Now this news has come out. I don't think that's something bad, it puts things in their place. What I nevertheless still would want is to make one united board candidacy."

Speaking to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, that brought the news earlier this week (read more here), Perrín was more clear and explicitly confirmed that Ferrer would run: "You are well-informed. I have nothing to rectify about what has been published. So yes, it's correct that I will be part of a candidacy that will be lead by Jaume Ferrer.

We hope to be able to formally present our candidacy after the World Cup for Clubs and before Epiphany [6 January], but it will be up to Jaume to officially decide that. I didn't yet talk with him since the report came out and it wouldn't be elegant from my part to already say things that should be announced by him.

I can only confirm that I will join him, that the names that have been mentioned by 'El Mundo Deportivo' are 100 percent correct and that we're open to other incorporations. Our candidacy is not yet finalized, far from it. It's open to all Barcelona people within or outside the board who want to join in, who want to be part of our ideas and philosophy."

El Mundo Deportivo claims that it seems as if Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall and Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín won't be part of the list of Ferrer and that former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano wouldn't join in either because he reportedly has other plans.

Read more:
Jaume Ferrer will run for president
Talks on board candidate to start in December
Barcagate (8) - The Ferrer report

picture: albert perrín (left) and jaume ferrer (right)

Jaume Ferrer will run for president

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona vice-president Jaume Ferrer will be a candidate in next year's elections for president of FC Barcelona and that he will announce his candidacy shortly after the World Cup for Clubs.

Ferrer would have the support of at least five other current members of the Barcelona board: vice-president Albert Perrín and directors Alfons Castro, Jacint Borràs, Josep Anton Colomer and Jordi Torrent.

Ferrer is said to have been regularly meeting with them lately to prepare his project, that will be based on the continuation of the current management and sporting model leaving behind the figure of Laporta, and to plan the composition of his team.

The 46-year old Catalan business man reportedly wants to open his candidacy for all board members, including first vice-president Alfons Godall and treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, who are both also rumoured to be potential candidates. Ferrer would also want to attract some new names to strengthen his possible board.

Jaume Ferrer joined the Barcelona board as treasurer and director responsible for the economic area when Joan Laporta was elected president in June of 2003. He was appointed as vice-president in November 2007, first responsible for marketing and since last month for assets administration (read more here).

Read more:
Talks on board candidate to start in December
The new board of directors
Barcagate (8) - The Ferrer report

Talks on board candidate to start in December

Speaking to Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín has said that it would be a mistake if the current board wouldn't present one presidential candidate in next year's elections:

"If this board won't be able to form one candidacy, then we would be quite stupid. It would be absurd that there would be two board candidates because then it would be almost impossible to win. I think we all should make an effort, talk and find a consensus so we can continue the work we have done until now. In all areas - sporting, social, economic - the results of the club have been very positive and we are capable to go on.

Who should be the candidate? We need to keep on talking about that. I think that Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer are two people with enough experience in the club and with enough qualities to be president. Xavier Sala i Martín? I think he's a very intelligent person, with qualities, with a ceertain fame, who can fulfil every job. He might lack some experience but that can be compensated by other qualities.

A lot of board members could be the candidate, but it's impossible to replace the president we have now. We've had a president with character, with courage, who has turned this club around. You can discuss about some of his actions, but he has been a dynamic president, enterprising, with innovative ideas, not afraid of anything. He has left his mark and he's kind of irreplaceable.

So we shouldn't look for a substitute because we won't find one and that's maybe why we are still discussing: because the possible candidates are different from the current president. We're not in a hurry to make a decision. The plan is that the board will start the final talks after the World Cup for Clubs in December and that we will have a candidate at the beginning of next year."

Read more:
Chief executive obstacle for one board candidacy
Poll result: Who should be the board candidate?

Albert Perrin appointed as new vice-president

Speaking at a press conference, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has today announced the details of the changes in the club's board of directors after a board meeting in the French city of Perpinyà.

As part of a board reshuffle after the exit of former Barcelona vice-president Joan Franquesa on Wednesday (read more here), Barcelona board member Albert Perrín has been appointed as new vice-president of FC Barcelona.

Perrín takes over Franquesa's responsibility on "institutional matters" while "assets admininistration" goes to vice-president Jaume Ferrer. Ferrer loses on the other hand "marketing and media" to vice-president Joan Boix. Board member Xavier Sala i Martín becomes the club's treasurer, replacing Boix in that function.

Read more:
Board reshuffle coming up next week
Vice-president Joan Franquesa resigns