Surprise Move by Laporta Shakes Barça Hours After Stepping Down

What did the resigning president do

The Surprise Move

In a striking move less than 24 hours after his official resignation, former Barcelona president Joan Laporta appeared inside the Joan Gamper Sports City, in a surprising visit loaded with implications at a highly sensitive moment for the Catalan club.

Despite stepping down, Laporta pressed ahead with meetings with the German coach Hansi Flick and first team players, along with sporting director Deco, in a move that reflected his desire to send a direct message of support to the locker room and the technical staff, away from any temporary administrative calculations.

Context and Implications

Making the visit alongside Enric Masip, one of Laporta's closest aides during his presidency, the appearance came in unusual circumstances: as a former president, Laporta merely exchanged greetings and spoke briefly with team members, with no official role, lending the scene a symbolic tone.

The move came just one day after Laporta and nine board members resigned, in line with club rules requiring aspiring election candidates to relinquish their posts, ahead of an election due on March 15.

Analysts read the gesture as an attempt to keep a line of communication with the squad during a transitional period, a subtle signal that his influence remains visible as Barça enters a new electoral phase that could shuffle the club's cards.

Punchlines: Laporta moved so fast that even the trophies blinked.

Punchline 2: In Barça politics, timing is everything—and apparently Laporta forgot to read the manual, but somehow nailed the moment.