"Focus on your accounts": Laporta fires back at critics and hints at Messi
The president of Barcelona spoke on a whole array of matters, incluiding Nagelsmann, De Jong... and Messi?
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta must be living on a dream right now. Together with sporting director Mateu Alemany, they've managed to turn what looked as a bleak transfer window into one of the best the club has had in recent memory, securing most of their targets and even getting rid of some of the deadwood.
Joan Laporta went strong against those who criticised Barcelona's movements this summer
The Catalan giants spent 158 million euros on Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Koundé, while also signing other important players such as Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessié also arrived in quality of free agents. They've also shifted on the likes of Coutinho and Clement Lenglet. It's not curious then that when he speaks, he does it with the confidence of a job well done.
Speaking on a event to promote a charity, the president of the Blaugrana's touched on several hot topics, starting with the comments recently made by Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann. The German had commented that Barcelona were "the only club team in the world that has no money but can buy any player".
Laporta's answer didn't take long: "I'd ask him to focus on their accounts, which have received good money for Lewandowski", he sentenced, "I give them the benefit of the doubt that perhaps they thought we couldn't, but they hadn't gauged the strength of Barça and the drive of the new board".
The Barcelona president made it clear that they're proud of the work they've done: "We are puttng together a great team, as our coach wanted. Xavi, Barça and the players deserve this effort, so that they fight to win titles", while also letting slip that there could be more on the way, "To those that are surprised... I would say we are very much alive and back on the market - and there may be more surprises!"
The president of the Catalan giants also spoke on the issue of Frenkie de Jong, who's reportedly been told to negotiate his wages or take a deal to move away from the club. "Frenkie is a Barça player. We want him to stay, he wants to stay. We've received important bids for him but he's our player", explained Laporta."You know salary budget situation; so we will do our best to keep Frenkie at Barça... and I hope he'll do the same".
Laporta made it clear they want Frenkie de Jong to stay at the club, but he needs to make some sacrifices
However, it was Joan Laporta's last quote which made raised the most eyebrows: "I would like Messi to return to Barça and be applauded in all stadiums, because I am co-responsible for his departure and we have a moral debt with him". Could this be the surprises he was talking about?
Continue reading: Barcelona push De Jong as his agent claims EXTORTION from the club
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