Joan Laporta

[Messigician]

It was good that Laporta did not travel to Qatar, I think the Qataris were looking for that photo-op to showcase and elevate their status (having forced the president of the club to travel there to negotiate the signing of Xavi).

On the other hand, Laporta just couldn't keep hiring people that he knew into key positions inside the club, regardless of their experience and expertise.

https://www.2playbook.com/clubes/ba...eus-deportiu-como-director-asia_5706_102.html

Bryan Bachner, the guy who Laporta just hired to replace Jordi Camps (the head of the HK office before becoming the commercial director of the club, who ended up resigning after Laporta took over due to differences with the vision of the club in the commercial sector), is an old acquaintance of Laporta's, with whom and Joan Oliver Fontanet (Barca's CEO between 2008 and 2010 under Laporta) together had some failed endeavors, for example buying Reus Deportiu and bankrupting it later. Bryan Bachner is based in Beijing right now and his dealings involve the FC BIT Beijing, a miserable second division football club that will relegate. His field is apparently law and investment, what the heck does he know about the commercial and branding business?

The above 2Playbook article provides a list of acquaintances Laporta has hired into the club since he took over in April:

- Pere Lluis Mellado, the head of Barca's legal services. He worked for the club between 2004 and 2010 and was secretary of the board of directors of Reus Deportiu with Joan Oliver Fontanet.
- Manana Giorgadze, Laporta's trusted person in his law firm and now chief of staff
- Manana Giorgadze's daughter, Paloma Mikadze, was appointed head of digital strategy with significant internal opposition to the perception that the responsibilities that are assumed to the position do not match her experience
- Maite Laporta, Laporta's sister was hired for the previously non-existent position of head of diversity and inclusion
- Marta Segu, hired to to lead Barca Foundation
- Jordi Portabella, the head of the sustainability area. The former ERC politician ran for mayor of Barcelona City Council in 2011 through a coalition with Laporta, who was his No.2 in the Unitat per Barcelona (UxB) candidacy. It is unknown what his experience is in this area, key especially in the development of Espai Barca
- Xavier Budo, from the sports area, and Alex Barbany, at the head of income, played an active role during the electoral campaign


Real Madrid just signed two global sponsors within the last 30 days or so (Abbott and Adobe) while we have had almost zero movement in that area since Laporta took over (Allianz and Caixa Bank renewed, that was it). It appears Laporta is not hiring people based on their talent rather whether or not he knows them or trusts them enough.

This gave me PAIN

Maite Laporta, Laporta's sister was hired for the previously non-existent position of head of diversity and inclusion

 

[Horatio]

This man appears on every video and picture released of Xavi at Barca lol. Stalker much?

 

[Messi983]

@gbsans First place medal] | Bar?a has reached an agreement with Chiliz , the creators of the Fan Tokens and the fan engagement platform http://Socios.com, which are already Official Bar?a club partner for some time for sponsorship of the sleeves of the shirt. #FCBlive

The brand will sign until June 2022, with the option to extend further. The official announcement will be made by Thursday or Friday. It was due to be signed on Monday but Xavi's presentation was scheduled.

Bar?a will get around ?9M by this sponsorship deal.


Almost enough to pay out Koeman.

 

[Birdy]

The most successful Sporting Director in football of the recent era, Michael Edwards, is about to step down from his post at Liverpool in the summer. He already identified his replacement there.

Laporta, if you are any clever, please consider this guy.
I don't think there is anyone better, or even on par, with this guy in resurging a club in the elite

 

[Messigician]

Apparently had a huge disagreement with Laporta over winter signings and called him delusional

(&#127765 JUST IN: Ramon Planes has asked Barcelona that he wants to leave. @ffpolo

 

[kattanib]

Apparently had a huge disagreement with Laporta over winter signings and called him delusional

(&#127765 JUST IN: Ramon Planes has asked Barcelona that he wants to leave. @ffpolo

Laporta is the king, transforming and building this club like a true hero. In Laporta we trust!

 

[malvolio]

Laporta is the king, transforming and building this club like a true hero. In Laporta we trust!

Solid 8/10 performance

 

[Birdy]

[MENTION=21238]barca[/MENTION]Times
?
30m
@tjuanmarti
Marc Overmars is waiting for a call from Joan Laporta. He has not yet extended his contract at Ajax and he has won an offer from Newcastle. #FCBlive

He might not be at the level of Michale Edwards or Ralf Ragnick, but he is a solid solution.

The sporting director can be even more important than the coach.
Laporta should upgrade us massively there
It's time...

 

[Messigician]

It's done

Bar?a will probably assign the technical secretariat role to Jordi Cruyff, as a replacement for the departing Ram?n Planes.

? @ffpolo

 

[behindbrowneyes]

Need to wait and see. Might be that Xavi is taking a way more powerful role than previous coaches and that's the reason why Planes left days after his appointment. If the club replaces Ramon Planes by Jordi Cruyff, you know that Xavi is THE man.

 

[BBZ8800]

If the club replaces Ramon Planes by Jordi Cruyff, you know that Xavi is THE man.

Or the club doesn't know what they are doing.

A sporting director with zero experience as a director and being a bad footballer.
But being the son of the father of Barca DNA.

And Xavi, a member of the 2nd Barca DNA team.

This is clearly a lottery.
We have two inexperienced and questionable guys and Laporta is just hoping for the best.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Or the club doesn't know what they are doing.

A sporting director with zero experience as a director and being a bad footballer.
But being the son of the father of Barca DNA.

Jordi has 10 years or so as SD, and he wasn't a bad footballer either. Mediocre player for Barca level maybe but not bad footballer.

 

[BBZ8800]

Jordi has 10 years or so as SD, and he wasn't a bad footballer either. Mediocre player for Barca level maybe but not bad footballer.

He wasn't terrible.

Something like Denis Suarez or Nolito.
Peaks of his career were Alaves and Espanyol and 9 NT matches.

But if his name wasn't Cruijff, he surely wouldn't get close to even getting a chance at Barca as a player or a director.

It is quite clear why is he here.

A hint: it rhymes with Barca RNA.

 

[khaled_a_d]

He wasn't terrible.

Something like Denis Suarez or Nolito.
Peaks of his career were Alaves and Espanyol and 9 NT matches.

But if his name wasn't Cruijff, he surely wouldn't get close to even getting a chance at Barca as a player or a director.

It is quite clear why is he here.

A hint: it rhymes with Barca RNA.

I don't want Crujif to be hired as SD because the club is turning their DNA into a form of nepotism gradually, that is I agree with.
We are gradually turning into closed club that isn't open for new ideas.
But Jordi is like EV for example, who was a bench warmer for 2 years in Barca and more connected to Bilbao and Espanyol for example.
In a way you can argue the EV hire since he had very good success in both Espanyol and Bilbao, same with Jordi who had success elsewhere.

 

[serghei]

Need to wait and see. Might be that Xavi is taking a way more powerful role than previous coaches and that's the reason why Planes left days after his appointment. If the club replaces Ramon Planes by Jordi Cruyff, you know that Xavi is THE man.

Imo, managers should have a say in transfers, especially managers that have a way of playing and are doing a rebuilding job with low money. It's not about picking the names themselves, but about making sure that we bring in players that can fit with his plans.