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Joan Laporta stated Lionel Messi has already despatched him a message congratulating him on being elected as the brand new president of Barcelona.
Messi, 33, voted in Sunday’s election as Laporta saw off competition from Victor Font and Toni Freixa to return to the put up he beforehand held between 2003 and 2010.
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Greater than 55,000 membership members participated within the vote, a turnout of simply over 50%, with 30,184 of them voting for Laporta to arrange champagne-soaked celebrations inside his marketing campaign cabin at Camp Nou.
It was the primary time Messi has voted in an election — they often happen in the summertime when he’s on worldwide obligation — having been very vital of the membership’s earlier president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, when he tried to go away final summer time.
With Messi’s contract expiring in June and his future nonetheless up within the air, Laporta stated the actual fact he selected to train his proper to vote suggests he is leaning in the direction of staying at Barca beneath his presidency.
“It was very nice seeing Messi go and vote,” Laporta instructed reporters on Monday. “It’s extra proof that he loves Barca. I’m satisfied that he desires to remain. And sure, he has already congratulated me for profitable.”
All through his marketing campaign, Laporta reiterated that of the three candidates he was the more than likely to persuade Messi to stay on the membership.
The ahead needed to go away the membership final August however was blocked by Bartomeu’s board. With Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain showing interest, Messi stated he’ll wait till the top of the season earlier than making a choice.
Manchester Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola was additionally amongst these to congratulate Laporta, posting a message on social media. Laporta was the president that appointed Guardiola as Barca boss in 2008 and he has all the time stated the door will stay open if he ever desires to return.
In the meantime, Laporta has begun work on restructuring Barca off the pitch.
Former Valencia common supervisor Mateu Alemany will tackle an analogous function on the Catalan membership, whereas sources have confirmed to ESPN that Jordi Cruyff, the son of Barca legend Johan, is prone to are available as sporting director.
Cruyff is head coach of Chinese language Tremendous League membership Shenzhen FC however is anticipated to go away that place and it’s potential that he flies into Barcelona later this week.
Barca’s first recreation since Laporta was elected is in opposition to PSG on Wednesday within the Champions League, once they should overturn a 4-1 first-leg defeat.
In the course of the celebration on Sunday, Laporta screamed “to Paris to see if we will produce one other remontada [comeback]” in reference to Barca’s 6-1 win in opposition to the French facet in the identical competitors in 2017.
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