Joan Laporta heads a newly-elected board at the club and takes over a team in financial disarray.
He’s not even a full week after his election victory and he’s already seen the club exit the Champions League at the hands of PSG. More damaging, however, is the news that Jaume Giro, who was going to key a key figure on the financial side of his board, has resigned from his position.
✅| OFFICIAL: Jaume Giró resigns from his position as Economic VP, due to professional reasons.
ℹ️”Due to his responsibilities in London during the month, making it impossible to fully dedicate himself to the tasks as vice-president of the entity”#FCB
Via: @AdriaSoldevila [SER] pic.twitter.com/4fYt9xjsJ3
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) March 13, 2021
Giro is a former executive of Fundacio Caixabank, and not only did he contribute a significant amount of money to the future board with his personal assets but he also negotiated guarantees with various banks. Laporta must look for another economic leader to help confront Barcelona’s debt of over €1bn.
Barcelona may have to sell record-signing Phillipe Coutinho in order to steady the ship. The club has taken a major hit due to the pandemic this year.
The Brazilian joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2018, for a fee that could rise up to £142 million if Coutinho reaches 100 games for the club. Coutinho has had a stop-start career with Barcelona so far, as the midfielder’s time has been plagued with injuries.
Coutinho currently sits on 90 appearances for Barcelona. He won’t be back on the pitch until April after he underwent surgery on a knee injury earlier this year.
The thing is, Barcelona have been trying to sell Coutinho for years. Arsenal and Chelsea were the most interested but a deal failed to materialise but transfer talks could be reignited this summer.
Barcelona have been named as favourites to sign Sergio Aguero on a free transfer
Sergio Aguero is reportedly close to agreeing on a two-year contract which would see him join Barcelona when his current deal with Manchester City expires at the end of the season.
According to Spanish outlet Diario AS, new Barcelona president Joan Laporta has moved quickly to get in contact with Aguero.
The 32-year-old Argentinean forward scored his first league goal of the season as City beat Fulham 3-0 on Saturday. But he has suffered a frustrating few months after battling with injury problems and off-pitch issues.
Zabaleta believes Aguero could convince Messi to stay at Barcelonahttps://t.co/LdIvc6Duva pic.twitter.com/TI4pn6gK4W
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) March 13, 2021
The transfer could also mean a longer stay for talismanic forward and compatriot Lionel Messi, with the Spanish daily newspaper suggesting the deal for Aguero might be conditional on Messi remaining at the club.
Pablo Zabaleta can see Barcelona star Lionel Messi linking up with Sergio Aguero next season. The 36-year-old has played with both men for Argentina, and of course, won two Premier League titles with Aguero at City.
And he suggested a move to the Nou Camp could be the best option for his former club-mate, who made his second start in four games against Fulham on Saturday.
“Messi is in his last year of contract,” Zabaleta told Forever Blue.
“There were elections last Sunday and a new president; all he [Laporta] wants is to convince Messi to stay.
“One of the reasons to keep Messi is to bring Sergio to Barcelona. A few weeks ago, it was Messi to Man City because Sergio was there and it could be good for Messi to be reunited and to work with people he knows from Barcelona before.”
Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona – inspiring them to 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League triumphs among a huge trophy haul.
