Laporta on Lewandowski
Barcelona President Joan Laporta recently discussed the club’s squad quality and how new coach Hansi Flick can maximize its potential, specifically highlighting Robert Lewandowski’s contributions. “We have very quality players. Frenkie, Gundo, Joaos, and Lewandowski.
Flick will get the most out of a player of Lewandowski’s quality. He scored 26 goals when he won the League, and this year almost 20, a total of 26. He is a scorer from whom you can get a lot out of,” Laporta stated.
Laporta also revealed that Lewandowski has turned down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia to remain at Barcelona, consistent with earlier reports. “He is motivated. He has said no to offers from Arabia and did not want to leave because he is comfortable in the country. Flick has to understand this to get the most out of him,” Laporta explained.
In discussing the rest of the squad, Laporta mentioned, “We also have Kounde, who has had an extraordinary season. We have Inigo Martinez. We have Balde and Gavi back. We have Sergi Roberto. The intention is to keep them all, and it is also Flick’s intention.”
Laporta on Vitor Roque and the two Joaos
Laporta was also questioned about the future of Vitor Roque, who joined Barcelona in January but has faced some challenges.
Laporta noted that the Brazilian was initially supposed to join in the summer but provided little detail on his future. “Vitor Roque was scheduled to come at the end of the season and already knows the environment. I think they will all remain, except for some whose contracts end or who have asked to leave. We also have those returning from loan. I leave the planning in the hands of Deco and Flick,” he said.
Regarding Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix, Laporta expressed Barcelona’s desire to keep both players at Camp Nou. “We want the Joaos to continue.
Deco is working to ensure that they continue another season under current conditions. Flick considers them high-quality players, and when he coached Bayern, he already tried to incorporate Joao Felix,” he stated. He added, “I think that Felix could have performed better because he has extraordinary quality.”
Laporta on La Masia and new signings
Laporta highlighted Barcelona’s potential transfer strategy for the upcoming summer. He hinted that a big-money sale might not be necessary while emphasizing the need for a new defensive midfielder. He also acknowledged Andreas Christensen’s contributions. “We are studying the positions to be reinforced with Flick. In the pivot, with Christensen, the team took on another dimension, but it is a position in which another player may need to join,” he revealed.
Laporta mentioned Marc Casado from La Masia as a promising talent who had an extraordinary season. “In the quarry, we have Marc Casado. We’re not talking about players, we’re talking about positions,” he added. Casado is one of many La Masia talents aiming for a professional breakthrough in the coming season.
During the interview, Laporta emphasized La Masia’s importance in Barcelona’s long-term project, saying, “We have a jewel in the form of La Masia.”
Finally, Laporta noted that Barcelona’s increased income might negate the need for a big-money sale. “It is not necessary to make a big sale. We have increased our income. We are close to resolving a situation that gave us fair play last year,” he said.
Laporta also provided an update on a potential new deal with Nike, claiming it would be the best in the market. “We are in negotiations for a contract that will be the best on the market in kit sponsorship. We are doing all this simultaneously with the Spotify Camp Nou works. That is why I value the partner’s attitude more and more,” he concluded.
