Font's Bold Bet: A plural leadership plan to reboot Barcelona

Font's plural leadership vision for Barça

Victor Font, a likely candidate for the presidency of Barcelona, introduced his new project as the head of the Nosaltres group, a coalition aimed at uniting Barça supporters from across the spectrum. He frames the campaign as a real alternative to the current regime, insisting that the club’s governance should be inclusive, professional, and far from a personal fiefdom.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Font (53) launched his campaign on Monday by presenting Nosaltres, a group that brings together fans from diverse backgrounds who want a united platform beyond the present administration.

Font says that if he wins, his first move will be to contact Lionel Messi, leaving the ultimate decision about the Argentine star’s possible return to Messi himself.

Font emphasises the aim of a genuine alternative to the current leadership: he argues Barca belongs to everyone and that it is essential to move from a personal, autocratic approach based on improvisation to a plural, professional, and inclusive model. He notes that Barcelona is a diverse club with economic, sporting, and social dimensions, and that their project is only the starting point from which members will choose between the “ego” model and a plural framework that advances the club.

He adds that leadership should be shared; a collective model where the club’s future is shaped by multiple experts in football, other sports, the economy, and society. He argues that Barça cannot be stopped when leadership is broad and distributed, whereas a leadership held by a single person risks stalling the club’s progress.

Asked about other candidates who publicly considered running, Font responded that they are building a Barça-wide alternative and that everyone is welcome because the project is inclusive and seeks people who share the club’s vision and are willing to contribute.

Regarding the criterion of being the group’s leader, given that Font was the second most voted candidate in the last election, he explains that trust must be anchored in a shared vision and clear goals rather than old friendships; the “I” model relies on friends and family, while his plan seeks competence and a common purpose. He stresses that he has been working on this project at full speed since the summer.

Font continues by saying that the club’s management style must change. The “I” model depends on improvisation and personal decisions. He cites examples like the stadium issue as evidence of improvisation and notes that a small circle of confidants can undermine long-term planning and damage relationships with club icons like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Busquets, and Victor Tomas—key figures in Barça’s history and identity.

When asked about past reliance on certain people who left the project late, Font responds that while trust is essential, it must be built on a shared vision and defined objectives, not just old friendships. The “I” model concentrates friends and family, whereas the Nosaltres vision seeks competence and a common purpose.

He adds that a crucial lesson from the last election is that efforts must be aimed at winning votes, not merely preparing to govern. He notes that, although they drafted a comprehensive 2021 management plan, success depends on inspiring the electorate and delivering a credible path forward.

Font also discusses transfer policy, acknowledging that while big names like Haaland or Julián Álvarez could excite fans, those decisions belong to the sports-management team the project would build. He argues Barça needs a top striker but also has a strong youth nucleus and talents such as Gavi, among others, who could shape the club’s future.

Regarding ties to Manchester City and whether that could facilitate Haaland’s arrival, Font says the project must pursue opportunities across all directions. He emphasises that the plan is collective and benefits from everyone’s connections, distinguishing clearly between an “I” approach and a “we” approach.

He adds that Xavi loves the club but has no intention of returning to work there; the aim is to create conditions for this golden generation—Messi, Iniesta, Puyol, Busquets, and others—to contribute as needed in the future.

Font concludes by saying that embracing Messi and ensuring he can play the role he wants is essential to satisfy all Barça fans. He warns against instrumentalising Messi for political purposes as happened in past elections, promising the first call after victory will be to Messi if he’s available. The broader aim is to engage every potential contributor to Barça’s future, acknowledging that these figures are symbols of the club but should not be used as political tools. Still, the initial outreach will be to Leo.

Punchline time: If Barça’s boardroom were a locker room, Font would deploy a 4-3-3 of experts. And if leadership were a free kick, Messi would still be the one to decide where it goes—even if the Keeper of Fate saved it, we’d still get a rebound of hope.