Messigician
Senior Member
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