Joan Laporta

Windhook

Well-known member
That would be Laporta who said Messi was worth every penny of that contract and more and also tried to put him on a mega contract for years when wouldnt be playing for the club.

You know better how politics work once you get elected. Promises vs. reality. No way anyone would have bought the "no salary" Messi thing, anyway. It's against FIFPro regulations.
 

Luftstalag14

Culé de Celestial Empire
Well don't praise him for stuff like that then. It's not difficult to release those 2 players and get a bank loan.

First off, Messi wasn't ours to release in the first place since he was a free man after July 1st, Laporta just couldn't sign/renew him. So it is neither a credit or baggage for Laporta there.

Getting rid of Griezmann wasn't that easy actually, you have to find a club that will shoulder his salary. Again, I wasn't happy to see him leave but I take they had to do it for financial reasons.

By "bank loan", are you referring to the one we got from Goldman Sachs? We have negative assets right now, so it was no small feat to actually get a loan like that when you are under water.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
You know better how politics work once you get elected. Promises vs. reality. No way anyone would have bought the "no salary" Messi thing, anyway. It's against FIFPro regulations.

Politicians speak shite and get called on it. Laporta the same in this situation.

Handled situation poorly from start to finish.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
First off, Messi wasn't ours to release in the first place since he was a free man after July 1st, Laporta just couldn't sign/renew him. So it is neither a credit or baggage for Laporta there.

Getting rid of Griezmann wasn't that easy actually, you have to find a club that will shoulder his salary. Again, I wasn't happy to see him leave but I take they had to do it for financial reasons.

By "bank loan", are you referring to the one we got from Goldman Sachs? We have negative assets right now, so it was no small feat to actually get a loan like that when you are under water.

Laportas 'baggage' on Messi was speaking nonsense for months on end and pissing off Messi in process.

Griezmann as you say was nothing do to with Barca and was about a club wanting to take his salary on. That is not Barca going out and 'finding' that club.

Leaving it to last minute as thought Atletico would bend and swap Felix all played into signing shite like LDJ.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Do you think anyone else could have handled the situation better?

Obviously.

Dont lie to fans/Messi with no gain from it and piss off both.

Dont allow coaching team to think Messi was going to be main man in team until weeks before season starts.

Shit show.
 

malvolio

Senior Member
First off, Messi wasn't ours to release in the first place since he was a free man after July 1st, Laporta just couldn't sign/renew him. So it is neither a credit or baggage for Laporta there.

Getting rid of Griezmann wasn't that easy actually, you have to find a club that will shoulder his salary. Again, I wasn't happy to see him leave but I take they had to do it for financial reasons.

By "bank loan", are you referring to the one we got from Goldman Sachs? We have negative assets right now, so it was no small feat to actually get a loan like that when you are under water.

Mate, you're praising him for letting Messi go when it seems the situation wasn't even in his hands. So zero merit to Laporta on this.

Wasn't easy to give Griezmann away for free?

Imagine a bank not wanting to loan a club of our stature

You're trying too hard when an idiot like Bartomeu could have done the same deals.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
The way it is made out Laporta and board persuaded Goldman Sachs to give that loan and 'found' Atletico for Griezmann sale...

Banks dont give loans like that through powers of persuasion they deal in facts and financial situation of club.

Any President could have got same deal very easily. It was THE only option for anyone coming in.
 

Luftstalag14

Culé de Celestial Empire
Mate, you're praising him for letting Messi go when it seems the situation wasn't even in his hands. So zero merit to Laporta on this.

Wasn't easy to give Griezmann away for free?

Imagine a bank not wanting to loan a club of our stature

You're trying too hard when an idiot like Bartomeu could have done the same deals.

I am not praising Laporta on anything, certainly not for letting Messi go, just saying it wasn't his credit or fault that Messi left. He can't claim either.

I have already stated my stance on Griezmann. Not ideal but probably had to do, otherwise we probably couldn't register certain new signings etc.

We have been a mess on all levels (sporting, financial, institutional) despite our brand power, and especially after Messi is gone, not that easy at all to find somebody who wants to loan that 500m +.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
I am not praising Laporta on anything, certainly not for letting Messi go, just saying it wasn't his credit or fault that Messi left. He can't claim either.

I have already stated my stance on Griezmann. Not ideal but probably had to do, otherwise we probably couldn't register certain new signings etc.

We have been a mess on all levels (sporting, financial, institutional) despite our brand power, and especially after Messi is gone, not that easy at all to find somebody who wants to loan that 500m +.

It was easy to find that loan.

Any president gets it had to be done to keep club afloat. It is the financial clout and brand of the club that gets that loan not powers of persuasion.
 
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malvolio

Senior Member
I am not praising Laporta on anything, certainly not for letting Messi go, just saying it wasn't his credit or fault that Messi left. He can't claim either.

I have already stated my stance on Griezmann. Not ideal but probably had to do, otherwise we probably couldn't register certain new signings etc.

We have been a mess on all levels (sporting, financial, institutional) despite our brand power, and especially after Messi is gone, not that easy at all to find somebody who wants to loan that 500m +.

In terms of restructuring the cost etc. to make us solvent for now, a very solid job so far.

Seemed to me that you kind of did praise him a bit on this. Or overstated his contribution there.

I wasn't interested in discussing whether it was good or bad that we did those 2 transfers. Just pointed out that Laporta got rid of 2 players that were in demand and didn't have to struggle to get them off the payroll.

Deloitte had us on number 1 place in therms of revenue, before the pandemic. So banks know a thing or two about auditing and assessing our situation. Any president would have gotten that loan.
 

Luftstalag14

Culé de Celestial Empire
Seemed to me that you kind of did praise him a bit on this. Or overstated his contribution there.

I wasn't interested in discussing whether it was good or bad that we did those 2 transfers. Just pointed out that Laporta got rid of 2 players that were in demand and didn't have to struggle to get them off the payroll.

Deloitte had us on number 1 place in therms of revenue, before the pandemic. So banks know a thing or two about auditing and assessing our situation. Any president would have gotten that loan.

With Messi, I think he did the right thing but he could have handled the whole thing better (not telling the fans that things were going well when it wasn't etc.)

You guys know I am not a fan of Laporta's, but he has to get some credit for keeping us afloat.
 

JamDav1982

Senior Member
With Messi, I think he did the right thing but he could have handled the whole thing better (not telling the fans that things were going well when it wasn't etc.)

You guys know I am not a fan of Laporta's, but he has to get some credit for keeping us afloat.

There was zero chance whatsoever of Barca going under and the loan was the easy and only solution for anyone.

It is laughable to say should get 'credit for keeping us afloat'.

Messi was not let go to keep club afloat and they wanted to give him a huge contract for years after he would have stopped playing anyway.
 

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