FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta took office in 2021 during his second blaugrana term. Since then, the club has experienced all kinds of situations to combat the team's situation. We must remember what the situation was like before that year.
In terms of sports, for years there have been numerous and painful humiliations in the Champions League. It was in Rome 2018, in Liverpool 2019, or Bayern 2020. Additionally, 2017 was Neymar's departure to Paris Saint Germain, thus breaking up one of the best attacking trios (Messi-Suárez-Neymar).
The economic situation before Joan Laporta was the worst chapter at FC Barcelona. The previous leaders left more than one billion euros in debt as a result of poor decisions, unprofitable signings, and uncontrolled wage bills.
Joan Laporta: suffering, but recovering
With Bartomeu's resignation in 2020 and the arrival of the current president in 2021, a reliable and solid project began. Joan Laporta wanted to examine how big the problem was with the internal audit. This revealed debt exceeding 1.3 billion.
With this, the famous economic levers were activated starting in 2022. The sale of assets, such as television rights and BLM, provided relief to begin cleaning up accounts. Meanwhile, the wage bill of players like Piqué, Jordi Alba, or Griezmann was reduced, and financial control was prioritized.
Messi's farewell, tough but necessary
The non-renewal of Leo Messi's contract in August 2021 marked the most painful farewell in FC Barcelona's history. It was the toughest, but necessary, feat that Joan Laporta had to maneuver. The Dutchman, then the team's coach, Koeman, also left the bench, and Xavi was chosen as the present and future.
With the Catalan leading and without Messi, but with a better overall situation, FC Barcelona began with strategic signings. It was the season of Lewandowski, Koundé, or Raphinha and the emergence in the youth academy. Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi, or Balde, among others, were added to the team.
Starting point: growth continues
Despite Xavi's tenure on the bench not being the best, FC Barcelona started winning titles again. The 2022-23 LaLiga trophy and the 2023 Spanish Super Cup were key. The definitive boost for Espai Barça was also given with the financing from Goldman Sachs for 1.4 billion euros.
Then came Xavi's dismissal in May 2024, a season without titles and with eliminations in the Champions League quarter-finals against PSG.
A few days later, the German coach, Hansi Flick, arrives. The former Bayern Munich coach arrived revolutionizing the FC Barcelona bench in the best way. All the trophies were won in his first season where only the Champions League slipped away.
Joan Laporta, more motivated than ever
With the entire journey of the solid project he promised and is building, Joan Laporta is very optimistic, excited, and eager to continue with the presidency of FC Barcelona. This is the best possible news for the Barça fans. There's still a lot more to come from Laporta.