Joan Laporta had ‘the balls’ to give Pep Guardiola his great opportunity in Barcelona



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Bringing Pep Guardiola back to Barcelona would not be easy. But if someone is capable of doing it, then it is Joan Laporta, who has said that he will stand for election as president of the club in 2021.

On two occasions in his career, Guardiola left Barcelona feeling unappreciated. First as a player in 2001, then as a coach in 2012.

Laporta was an integral part of his return the first time. He stood next to him in 2007 when he was introduced as the new Barça B coach tasked with helping move the youth team out of the fourth tier.

Joan Laporta and Pep Guardiola hold the LaLiga trophy at the Camp Nou in August 2010

Joan Laporta and Pep Guardiola hold the LaLiga trophy at the Camp Nou in August 2010

Laporta wants to bring Guardiola back as manager if he wins the Barcelona presidential elections

Laporta wants to bring Guardiola back as manager if he wins the Barcelona presidential elections

In a year he had succeeded and Laporta was giving him the best job firing Frank Rijkaard. “You don’t have the balls to do it,” was Guardiola’s legendary response when Laporta told him he was seriously considering putting him in charge.

Laporta left Barcelona in 2011 and a year later Guardiola resigned, worn out by the battle with Real Madrid, José Mourinho, but also weakened by an exhausting relationship with Laporta’s successor, Sandro Rosell.

“Pep had to be president and coach,” said Laporta. Sportsmail in an interview in 2017.

Laporta and Guardiola have never lost touch, meeting face to face at golf tournaments to raise money to raise money for him. [Johan] Cruyff Foundation, or by sending messages.

Their relationship could also be exhausting, but in a more productive way: two ultra-intense personalities who could be distracting each other, but generally with a positive result at the end of any dispute.

Before Laporta could bring Guardiola back, he would need to win the club elections. You have already tried it once. In 2015, he lost to Josep Maria Bartomeu, winning 33 percent of the vote against 55 percent of his rival.

Manchester City boss Guardiola will run out of an Etihad contract at the end of next season

Manchester City boss Guardiola will run out of an Etihad contract at the end of next season

Laporta is determined to replace the current president Josep Maria Bartomeu at the Camp Nou

Laporta is determined to replace the current president Josep Maria Bartomeu at the Camp Nou

But Bartomeu was lucky that year. He called elections and then saw how the team won the LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Champions League triples. He was never going to lose his back from such success on the field and it was a measure of Laporta’s enduring appeal that he still garnered 15,000 votes out of 47,000 votes.

This time there will be no need to face Bartomeu because he cannot get back to his feet in 2021. He also has trouble raising a continuity candidate.

Laporta could certainly play the Lionel Messi card to great effect. His excellent relationship with the player and his father would help persuade the most important figure in the club to remain in the club.

Laporta’s biggest rival is more likely to be Victor Font, who already seems to have hooked Xavi with his chosen coach. However, there is time for that position to change.

Xavi has not officially committed to Font, although that is undoubtedly part of the reason why Bartomeu tried to give him the job when he fired Ernesto Valverde in January; and why he rejected it.

If Laporta wins, his next challenge would be to overcome Guardiola’s reluctance to return to Barcelona as a coach.

Laporta is close to superstar Lionel Messi: the couple are pictured together in February 2008

Laporta is close to superstar Lionel Messi: the couple are pictured together in February 2008

Guardiola kisses the Champions League trophy after taking Barça to glory at Wembley in 2011

Guardiola kisses the Champions League trophy after taking Barça to glory at Wembley in 2011

In that 2017 interview, Laporta referred to that when he said: “Barça’s future could one day be Pep as president and Xavi as coach.”

When Laporta told Catalan television that he would love Guardiola to return as a coach over the weekend, it was an answer to the direct question.

In the fascinating 25-minute interview, with the Barcelona pennant hanging from the shelf behind him, Laporta was first asked about the possibility that Xavi was his choice to take over.

“Sooner or later he will train Barcelona,” he said. But then he hinted at the possible reluctance of Xavi, whom he said still calls him ‘Presi’, to take over the players he had once played with.

It was then that the focus of the interviewer turned to Guardiola. And that’s when Laporta smiled and said: “I would love to have him in charge.” Then he made a point by saying that he was still the manager of Manchester City.

Laporta and Guardiola pose with Txiki Begiristain (left), who is now also at City, and the new signing Gerard Piqué at Camp Nou after closing a deal for the defender in July 2008

Laporta and Guardiola pose with Txiki Begiristain (left), who is now also at City, and the new signing Gerard Piqué at Camp Nou after closing a deal for the defender in July 2008

Laporta lost the Barcelona presidential elections in 2015, but will try again next year.

Laporta lost the Barcelona presidential elections in 2015, but will try again next year.

Time changes plans and opinions, and if Guardiola’s earlier rejection of the idea of ​​a coach return at Camp Nou is altered by a desire to return home, along with the feeling that he is too young at 49 years to turn your back. In training camp, then perhaps Laporta could convince him to build a new Barcelona based on the philosophy his mutual friend Cruyff instilled in the club.

“Barcelona’s problems are image and financial,” said Laporta.

It has already been called the “three billion club” under Bartomeu. It is a catchy slogan that refers to the way of speaking of a billion euros in income, there are also a billion euros of debt and a billion of expenses.

Whoever takes over in 2021, their most important task will be to guide Barcelona through the post-coronavirus world in which they still need that renovation of the 800 million euro stadium, but they no longer have the income they could ever count on. .

They could work with a coach who could work with young players and put together a cheap team from the academy.

That is another reason for Laporta to do everything possible for Guardiola. Perhaps that is why Guardiola would accept the challenge.

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