Rosell favourite for the gamblers

Catalan online newspaper El Debat reports that former Barcelona sports vice-president Sandro Rosell is for the gamblers at online betting site 'Betfair' the favourite to be chosen as president of FC Barcelona later this year.

Rosell was on Tuesday at noon noted at 1,4 euro for each euro input, with Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer at this moment being seen as his biggest rival, with a rate of 3,3. A few hours before, Spanish news agency Europa Press had reported that Rosell was noted at 1,2 and Ferrer at 4.

The ranking
Sandro Rosell: 1,4
Jaume Ferrer: 3,3
Alfons Godall: 5,1
Ferran Soriano: 5,1
Agustí Benedito: 7,2
Jaume Guixà: 11,5

Read more:
Poll Rosell confirms his big lead
Poll result: Who should be the next president?
Ferrer feels backed by own poll

Godall: "I want Cesc to return home"

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


Barça may one day become a joint stock company?
I think that would mean losing a great value that differentiates us. At certain times it was believed that we had a handicap since we had to compete against clubs that are joint stock companies and might even be listed on the stock market abroad. But it has been proven that it's not the case. This characteristic gives us more freedom and value. How many Premier League fans would give anything to regain the status of partners? They'd give anything for that. The economic viability of a club doesn't depend on its legal structure.

Do you have to requalify the Miniestadi zone in order to modernize the Camp Nou?
Some major works of great economic value has to be done. Therefore, either with the Foster project or with a cheaper one, it will be difficult to pay a remodelling of this magnitude without selling. It's not only about a new Camp Nou, but also about a new Palau [home to the basketball, handball, roller hockey, and futsal sections], which has become completely outdated.

Have you hinted that a more modest project is possible?
Yes. We feel that the process at the city council is taking longer than expected and that the requirements are becoming abusive. Against this background, we have to think about whether the reclassification we're looking at will make it possible to pay the remodelling we are talking about.

Barça is running a high risk by not having a bank guarantee for the television contract?
No, because there are some clauses in the contract that allow us to recover the rights almost immediately. The television rights of Barça are worth far more than we're receiving and in addition each year we get paid 40% in advance. Madrid, on the other hand, does have a bank guarantee but it's the club that should pay the cost of the guarantee and that's a lot of money. In fact, it's as if they're getting two or three millions less.

Will you maintain the prices of the season-tickets if you become president?
We will update them according to the consumer price index and if that's negative, we will also review them downwards.

Do you have the feeling that the fan clubs are satisfied?
It's an issue that touches me directly [godall is responsible for the social area]. There are more fan clubs than ever and there are more services for them than ever. We have the feeling that we have made a lot of progress, but, and the same goes for the club members, we still have to make a lot more.

Let’s talk about the sports area. When do you think that Guardiola should decide his future?
For me things are very clear. I'm in favour of giving him all the tranquillity he needs so that he can do his job without pressure and without having to keep an eye on his renewal. I believe it is essential that he can work comfortably. When the time is there, we will talk to him and offer him the working conditions, which will be those that he thinks can allow him to keep on doing his excellent work at Barça, either as a coach or with other responsibilities.

In which role do you see him?
I see him in the role in which he thinks he can do most for Barça.

If he wants to have absolute powers, will he get them?
Yes, but I am in favour of the current model and this, in principle, means maintaining the coexistence of the sport director and the coach, and therefore he could do one thing or the other.

But you are in favour of keeping Txiki. Or not?
Until the end of the term he is our sports director. As part of the talks on the future of the club, we also will have to know what Txiki would like to do in the future.

The six titles were also partly due to luck?
The truth is that none of us would have imagined that we would have been able to win them all, but we had total belief in Guardiola from the first day because we had seen him at the second team.

If you become president, which player would you like to sign?
Well, there's one player who we all would like to see coming home. I am referring to Cesc. He is a player that is made by and for Barça, although I'm speaking as a fan here.

There seems to be unanimity about his transfer among the candidates. Will he be crucial in the elections?
I talked for my own account, but the decision will be made by the coaches. I can say that there will be money for the transfers they will ask us, but I understand that with the current squad few changes will be needed.

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

Read more:
The five vice-presidents of Godall
Poll result: Who should be the next president?
Godall: "Laporta is like a brother to me"

interview: roger torelló

Could Ferrer team up with Rosell?

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer does not plan to join the candidacy of Sandro Rosell.

Ferrer would feel bad about rumours regarding a possible deal between him and Rosell, even more so because he wouldn't have talked once to the former sports vice-president over the last four years.

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall had suggested in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 last month that Ferrer could become part of the team of Rosell, who left the club in June 2005 and will take part in the presidential elections this year:

"I don't know, but I don't exclude that Jaume Ferrer would talk with Sandro Rosell, who clearly not shares the current model because he doesn't have patience, he is mort short-term minded, more results-oriented. And I sometimes had the impression that Ferrer shared that model."

Read more:
Ferrer: "One board candidacy will be difficult"
The Rosell Project - Part 4: The Board (2)
Ferrer feels backed by own poll

The Pundit: Oriol Domenech on the first polls

« Rosell's lead over his rivals isn't bigger than the one the Dream Team of Lluís Bassat, with Guardiola, Alemany, Roca and Cugat, had in 2003 over the other candidates, among which a certain Joan Laporta who started with 0% in the polls. »

Oriol Domènech,
El Mundo Deportivo

check more pundit talk

Guixa gets support grand-daughter club founder

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Guixà is getting the support of Emma Gamper, a grand-daughter of Hans [Joan] Gamper, the Swiss businessman who founded FC Barcelona in November 1899 and was also a player, director and president of the club.

It's not yet clear what the role of Emma Gamper, a 59-year old writer, will be in the candidacy of Guixà but in a message on the candidate's Facebook page she suggest she's gonna be actively involved in the campaign: "It's a pleasure to be part of your team! See you soon, ahead with the candidacy. You have my full support."

Read more:
Guixa: "The most powerful candidacy is ours"
Poll result: Who would you vote for?
Former vice-president part of board team Guixa

Laporta warns players for election year

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona president Joan Laporta also talked about the upcoming elections during his visit to the player's dressing-room last Thursday. Laporta is quoted as warning the players for the possible impact of the elections on the squad:

"The new year will be very complicated for the club, among other things because there will be an election campaign. That will make the daily life of the club a lot more difficult since the presidential candidates will not take into account the team but will only have an eye for their own interests.

This will lead to rumours about transfers or the position of the coach while the club is still competing for the trophies. That's why you will have to isolate yourselves from everything that will come from outside and to only think about the game and the group. As you have done until now but, if possible, you will have to do it even more this year."

Read more:
Iniesta and Xavi on the elections
Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc
Puyol: "Players will stay out of the elections"

Montal: "Rosell could be good president"

Former Barcelona president Agustí Montal (1969-1977) gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu, in which he talked about the presidential elections.


What are your thoughts on the upcoming elections?
It is difficult to predict what will happen. We're talking about 150.000 club members and many of them are not going to the stadium. The circumstances have changed a lot. Laporta's legacy are the sporting successes, but all those who have worked alongside him are responsible for that, even Sandro Rosell, who could be a good president, like any other board member.

Who will you vote for?
I won't say that for now. But when the day comes, I might say it. I am entitled to do so. However, when the winner will be known I will give my support to the new board, something I have always done.

Read more:
Ex-president Montal avoids election involvement
Former president Nunez to run with support Cruyff
The Quote: Joan Gaspart