Joan Laporta uses Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi as symbols of hope on return to Barcelona


Ian Hawkey
  • English
  • Arabic

Joan Laporta, elected as Barcelona’s president with an emphatic majority on Sunday night, came to his coronation with ready-made symbols.

He and his allies wore orange face-masks, in tribute to the late Johan Cruyff, of the Netherlands and, for so many years, inspirational player and coach of Barca.

Laporta had his diary a notable anniversary, too. “Twenty years ago, there was a kid who made his debut for the Barcelona boys B team,” noted Laporta in his victory speech, having won almost 55 per cent of the 55,000 votes cast by the club’s member supporters.

That boy was Lionel Messi, now 33, who had turned up at Camp Nou earlier in the day to cast his vote in the secret ballot, accompanied by his son Thiago.

“To me, seeing Leo come and vote proves what we have been saying throughout this campaign – that Leo loves Barcelona,” smiled Laporta. “The best player in the world loves Barcelona. We hope that helps with the decisions that have to be made in the future.”

The big Messi decision had dominated the lead-up to the elections and the long hiatus since the previous president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, stood down in October.

Messi’s current contract with the club where he has spent his entire career expires in June, and the gesture of his voting – as registered ‘socios’, or members, all Barcelona players are entitled to but not all do – will be widely interpreted as a show of his affection for Barcelona.

Laporta revealed he had received a congratulation message from the captain. “I think he wants to stay,” said the new boss.

Messi, hostile to Bartomeu, tried to leave last summer. If he wants to again, he knows he can count on many suitors at clubs in better health than Barca.

But he will listen intently to the persuasions of Laporta. The new president had cited his close relationship with Messi in his campaign. “If another candidate wins, Messi will certainly leave,” Laporta had forecast. Around the Camp Nou stadium, the main polling station, on Sunday some fans had chanted ‘Messi, Stay!”

The player himself has said only he will make a decision at the end of this season, a season which began in open confrontation with Bartomeu. The now ex-president, citing the €700 million buyout clause in Messi’s huge contract, blocked Messi leaving. That was one of his last executive acts. Bartomeu was gone in a matter of weeks.

Laporta will bring charisma and a long list of past glories to the role. He knows Messi well because he served as president when Messi rose from the club’s academy to the first team.

Joan Laporta, in his first spell as Barcelona president, shakes hands with Lionel Messi after the Argentine attacker signed a contract extension in 2005. AFP
Joan Laporta, in his first spell as Barcelona president, shakes hands with Lionel Messi after the Argentine attacker signed a contract extension in 2005. AFP

Laporta’s first mandate, between 2003 and 2010 turned out to be a golden era, with two Champions League titles, twice as many as the club had ever won before, and some bold choices, notably the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager when Guardiola had no senior experience as a coach.

Granting Laporta his second stint, Barcelona fans voted emphatically for more of that Midas touch, for his clear association with the admired Cruyff, whose ideas about how football should be played have become so influential at Barcelona, and for his bond with Messi.

But the challenges are huge. “The first thing we must do is a thorough audit,” said Laporta yesterday before heading off to talk to the players and manager Ronaldo Koeman at the club’s training ground.

Barcelona have an overall debt of close to €1.2 billion, and although they last year recorded the highest revenues of any football club, that income has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis. Fans have been restricted from entry into the 98,000 capacity Camp Nou for almost a year.

On the field, standards have fallen. In 2019-2020, Barcelona finished without a trophy last season for the first time in 12 seasons. Their best hope of silverware in Laporta's first few months is the Copa del Rey, whose final they reached thanks to last week's stirring comeback in the semi, from 2-0 down to Sevilla after 90 minutes, to 3-2 winners in extra time of the second leg. That was well timed for Koeman: No would-be new president was likely to speak of possible new managers after that display.

In la Liga, Barcelona are second, trailing Atletico Madrid, who could go six points clear on Wednesday, the same night Barcelona are in France, likely to confirm their elimination from the Champions League. They are 4-1 behind after the first leg of their last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

It means Laporta’s first night back in the front seat of a VIP section, will be in Paris, and a stark reminder of how times have changed. Back in 2006, he watched his Barcelona win a European Cup in the French capital. In the same city, he must see them confront the PSG juggernaut already three goals down, the clear underdogs.

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Barca 1 PSG 4: player ratings

Specs
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

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  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

The specs: 2018 Genesis G70

Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000

Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km

Pots for the Asian Qualifiers

Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

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Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

While you're here ...

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

WISH
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5