Laporta Declares Barça Back Among the Elite: A Rallying Call to Members
19 October 2025
Highlights
Barcelona president Joan Laporta told the club’s general assembly that Barça has returned to the standing it deserves among football’s elite, delivering a message to members ahead of the upcoming spring elections.
In remarks highlighted by AS, he stated: “We have brought Barcelona back to the place it should be. You can rely on any measure you choose; it’s clear we are far better than four and a half years ago… If anyone refuses to see, remember the proverb: I’m not blind to those who don’t want to see.”
The 32-minute speech was delivered at the ordinary members’ meeting, held online for the fourth consecutive year, a format Laporta had vowed to abandon last year but which persisted. He entered the hall singing the Barça anthem and clapping, signaling a confident mood.
Laporta praised his stewardship over the past season, which coincided with the club’s 125th anniversary, claiming: “We achieved a treble in a way that reflects our distinct style. My thanks go to Deco, Hansi Flick, all medical and administrative staff, and the players who formed an ideal group.”
On the financial side, he noted: “We did all this so that the members remain the true owners. We defended them from financial burdens. Members decide Barça’s future. Operational results have turned positive, proving the institution’s revival after the heavy legacy we inherited, even while we played away from home due to renovations. This year, auditors reported no issues thanks to the tremendous work of the financial and sports teams, who reduced payroll to 54% of revenue.”
“For four years and a half I’ve heard doom-laden forecasts that the club would become a public company, but facts disprove that,” he added. “Barça is not a company but an institution. We must keep faith, as we did with Flick’s trust in Araújo yesterday.”
Turning to the stadium project, Laporta lauded the Espai Barça agreement with Spotify, calling the new arena “our collective dream that future generations will enjoy.” He praised the courage to launch the project during tough times and thanked the city’s technicians and officials for their substantial work. He urged a round of applause for Espai Barça leadership, especially the team members who explained the process with maximum transparency.
The president also spoke warmly about women’s football, asking, “What would women’s football be without Barça?” He celebrated the success of the women’s side and acknowledged the youth teams’ achievements, while noting that football’s other departments had not progressed as hoped.
Historic Camp Nou
The Camp Nou stands as one of the world’s most iconic sports venues, not only as Barça’s home but as a symbol of identity for the city and region.
It officially opened on September 24, 1957, with a friendly against Legia Warsaw, drawing vast crowds and inaugurating a long era of glory.
The idea to build a larger stadium arose in the 1950s as matches outgrew the capacity of the old “Les Corts.” The project, a colossal undertaking for the era, took three years to complete and cost around 288 million Spanish pesetas.
Since its debut, Camp Nou has hosted some of football’s most memorable moments, including the 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich—one final etched into history for United’s dramatic late comeback. It also hosted matches during the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Barça’s legendary line-up — from Johan Cruyff to Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi — graced Camp Nou across decades, delivering local and European triumphs, most notably Guardiola’s treble in 2009.
The stadium has boasted capacities over 120,000 in some periods, later adjusted to around 99,000 for safety reasons, but it remains Europe’s largest and a sacred ground for Catalan fans, a place where identity and sport fuse.
Beyond football, Camp Nou became a stage for Catalan expression during periods of social movement. The southern stand, known as “Gol Sur,” became a rallying point for passionate supporters, with chants and songs echoing around the stadium.
Today, as Barça pursues modernization, Camp Nou is evolving into a contemporary architectural landmark. The update aims to increase seating, improve facilities, and deliver an enhanced experience for fans while preserving the spirit that has made the venue revered for generations.
