Joan Laporta is experiencing his second term as president of FC Barcelona. Since he returned in 2021, he has fought to change the club's situation at a sporting level, but also economically. The previous presidents wreaked havoc on the accounts of the Catalan club, and Laporta has tried to restore stability.
To achieve this, he has had to take desperate measures like Messi's departure. That was the starting point of a major crisis at Camp Nou. However, despite all the complications along the way, the work, involvement, and remarkable effort of Joan Laporta are evident.
Thanks to his persistence, FC Barcelona currently has a very good sporting level and an even better economic level. Nevertheless, Joan Laporta wants more. He is not satisfied with little and seeks to take advantage of the positive momentum to close a signing he has been trying for a long time.
Joan Laporta dreams of Rafael Leao
For several years, Joan Laporta has had a goal: to sign Rafael Leao. The Portuguese player is explosive, has dribbling skills, and a great ability to break through. In the current season, he has scored 12 goals and provided 13 assists in 48 official matches, leaving a very good impression in Italian soccer.
AC Milan, however, knows his worth and demand, so it is estimated that they will ask for more than 100M for Rafael Leao. The task Joan Laporta has is not a small one, precisely. His value is around 75 million euros, and he has a contract with his club until June 30, 2028.
Joan Laporta knows it won't be easy, but he tries again
To the complication of negotiating his signing is added the competition in his position. Rafael Leao is a pure left winger, a position currently played by Raphinha. The Brazilian was questioned when Nico Williams was rumored, and now the same could happen with AC Milan's '10'.
However, the potential Ballon d'Or winner already knows what he must do. Despite the painful Champions League elimination, Raphinha has scored 32 goals and provided 25 assists in 53 official matches. It's no coincidence that he is untouchable for Hansi Flick.
Last summer, Joan Laporta already tried to sign Rafael Leao. He ultimately couldn't finalize it for several reasons, but the intention was tremendously real. We will see if this year we witness the second part of this saga, which could end with the Portuguese striker playing at Camp Nou alongside Lamine Yamal.