MADRID — Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, spoke out on Tuesday to defend how his administration handled the Dani Olmo situation, asserting that there has been a deliberate effort to damage the club’s reputation.
During a press conference, Laporta articulated that specific media outlets and dissenting faction members within the sport are hoping for the club’s failure as it strives to register the Spanish midfielder, who has recently returned after a governmental decision was in Barcelona’s favor.
“The recent occurrences reinforce Barça’s resilience and contradict the dire narratives that have emerged from areas lacking proper information or motivated by malevolent intentions,” stated Laporta. He further mentioned that there have always been attempts by certain individuals, alongside media support, to fabricate disgraceful tales that diverge from reality, especially during crucial periods in the club’s past. “I take comfort in the fact that they have not succeeded this time,” he added.
Barcelona successfully registered Olmo along with forward Pau Víctor after an intervention from the government’s sports authority issued a temporary ruling against the decisions made by both the Spanish league and federation, which previously denied the club’s request due to a missed deadline concerning financial fair play compliance.
Laporta explained that the club had submitted its request ahead of time; however, the league insisted on unrealistic additional documentation, one being an auditor’s report dated December 31. He mentioned that a contributing factor to the missed deadline was that payment for VIP seating at the new Camp Nou was processed on December 31, but the funds were only accessible to the club on January 3.
The president expressed empathy for the players and their families who faced distress amid the uncertainty of their registration status. He praised both the squad and Coach Hansi Flick for their perseverance while the club navigated these challenges. “I sincerely appreciate the fortitude exhibited by the players and the entire team during these trying times,” he remarked.
Laporta also expressed disappointment toward members within the club who opposed his decisions. He acknowledged rival clubs, like Real Madrid, for not publicly criticizing Barcelona’s efforts to register the players.
“Almost everyone recognizes that the challenges presented were attacks aimed at damaging the club and its emblem,” he stated during the nearly two-hour news conference. “No orchestrated campaign will ever undermine Barça, a club cherished by millions.”
In response to past criticisms regarding Barcelona’s financial management, Laporta shared that the club has achieved an additional 300 million euros ($308 million) through a renegotiation of its contract with Nike, highlighting that this was the best outcome the club could secure.
In another development, Barcelona announced that defender Iñigo Martínez is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month due to a right hamstring injury sustained during the team’s 5-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final held in Saudi Arabia.
As it stands, Barcelona ranks third in the Spanish league, trailing behind Madrid by five points and six points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid at the midway point of the season. The team’s next challenge will be against Real Betis in the round of 16 during the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
