Barcelona president Laporta recently spoke at length on his personal podcast about the current state of the club, the players' situation, the opposition at the top, and the future of the elections, demonstrating his deep insight and unwavering confidence in the club.
Speaking about Yamal, Laporta said, "Yamal is a very talented player, but his career has often been marred by many distractions. Considering his physical condition, it will be a very risky decision to keep him on for the next game. We have taken steps to protect our interests and have communicated with the relevant parties, who understand our point of view and the player's situation. Yamal is young but he has a strong personality and is able to clearly express his situation."
Regarding the injuries to Xavi and De Jong, Laporta revealed, "Xavi was injured in the national team, and maybe he wouldn't have been injured if he hadn't played in those two matches. Now we have to limit him and make him give his best in training. If all goes well, he will be back against Sevilla, Bayern and Real Madrid. We must also be understanding with players like De Jong, after all they have gone through a long absence."
Speaking about the fact that there are a number of internationals in the squad who have been called up, Laporta said, "This is exactly what happens when we do our job well. Although we've had some minor problems, like Levan, overall it's no big deal. We have a lot of players called up for the national team, which is both an honor and a challenge, and we have to handle these situations properly."
Laporta offered his opinion on the mandatory call-ups to the Spanish national team: "Maybe we need to unite to change this rule. If players could choose whether or not to go to the national team, they would make a decision based on their physical condition without having to be forced to give up their will to participate. Having the freedom of choice would allow them to avoid problems when they feel tired or are at risk of injury."
Speaking about the opposition at the top of Barcelona, Laporta said, "As president, I respect all opinions. But at a time when the majority of Barcelona fans are happy and joyful, we are in a very good and critical period in our history. It is wrong to make prophecies of doom and it seems that there are those who wish to frustrate Barça fans, who are creating a reality that is not true."
Laporta also spoke about the current state of Barcelona: "The reality is that Barcelona is the center of our lives. We can't wait to see Rafinha's progress, Lewandowski's goals, Yamal's great performances and the return of Xavi. We are one of the best clubs in the whole of Europe in terms of form. These catastrophic predictions only serve to infuriate the majority of Barca fans. They are trying to weaken the club and that's not good for us. We need to be united."
Regarding future elections, Laporta said, "The elections will take place in 2026 and there will be an opportunity to present projects then. If they want to start now, that's fine, they are free to do so. But it's wrong to claim a reality that doesn't exist."
Speaking about the motives of the opposition, Laporta said, "They want to weaken the board and my presidency. But I think they made a mistake. I am very happy with the way we are managing the club. In Barcelona's 125th anniversary year, we are recovering the club's economy and have an exciting team. We still deserve the trust of our members."
Finally, speaking about former Barcelona executive Evarist, Laporta said, "I respect the opinion of any member and don't want to take it personally. They formed a critical group probably to show an alternative. I have known Evarist for many years and I hope that those who are now critical will change their opinion of us. I don't agree with them, but I will respect their rights as members."
