Soriano confirms support for Ingla

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano has said that he would support a presidential candidacy of former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla, who left the club together with Soriano in 2008:

"Marc Ingla is excited with the idea of running for president. He is a colleague and a friend and I think as part of the group of directors both he and myself are among the fathers of the management of FC Barcelona in recent years.

The last seven years of club management have been positive, the club has moved forward and I think that it is right and good that all those who participated in one way or another are also present in the elections and I don't think this campaign should be reduced to 'all against one'.

If Marc Ingla decides to participate, I will help him the way I can, but I don't yet know how. I have already said that I would certainly take part in the campaign, but always in a positive way and I won't come out until the campaign starts."

Read more:
Ingla preparing his election campaign
Soriano awaiting election events
Ingla has decided to run for president

New developments regarding Ronaldinho commission

Over the past week, there have been several new events regarding the story in a book written by Barcelona president Joan laporta that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, in 2004, when he was sports vice-president of the club, wanted to sell Ronaldinho to Chelsea and cash a commission fee (read more here).

Sunday
Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC 1, Laporta confirms the story: "I've only explained what I have lived. The reaction of Sandro Rosell has surprised me because I think it would have been a lot more honest to confirm what he has told me. He informed me that there was an offer from Chelsea of 100 millions and he indeed added that they were prepared to give a commission of 10 per cent.

He later told me about it a second time - as I explain in my book the first time was in Madrid, the second in Paris. I am sure because he spoke to me directly, there were no intermediaries. And now I have serious doubts about his intentions because it would have been normal that he would have confirmed the story saying that he had informed me but that he didn't want to do it.

But if he reacts like he is doing now, by lying, I start to think in another way than I did. I think that with this totally inappropriate way of reacting - and he knows that he is lying - I think one should start to think that he was not only mentioning the commission of 10 per cent to inform me.

It's true that from then on, our relationship wasn't the same anymore. I started to have serious doubts about his person and although he said 'I'm just telling you about it, nothing more' our relation deterioriated since that happened. It was in the spring of 2004 and you know what has happened afterwards.

Before he already wanted to throw out Rijkaard in December 2003. Then in June 2004, he wanted to throw out Rijkaard again, as well as Txiki. There were the transfers that summer, like that of Eto'o, when he had an irrational fear for Madrid because according to him mister Florentino Pérez would kill us or destroy us.

And then during the 2004-2005 season, he and four others directors were constantly going against all decisions taken by the board until they resigned just after winning the league and after a year of internal crisis due to their immature behaviour. They gave up and made clear that it would be the apocalypse from then on, but everyone can count the trophies we've won since then."

Monday
Laporta gives in a statement on his personal website a detailled report of how Rosell mentioned two times the commission fee offered by Chelsea, the first time in Madrid on 25 April, the second time the following month in Paris where Laporta and Rosell shortly met with Chelsea representatives in the Crillon hotel.

Laporta explains that at that time he thought that Rosell didn't want the sale to actually take place and that he was just informing him about the proposal, but that after Rosell's reaction now, it would look as if he did want to sell Ronaldinho and receive a commission fee:

"Now six years later, and having seen the reaction of mister Rosell, I feel that he certainly did want to close that deal. I say this because I don't understand that he has been denying what he told me back then, both in Madrid and Paris. I don't understand that he has issued a statement threatening with legal actions when the book makes it clear that he only informed me.

He knows perfectly well that what I have described above is true and has occurred. So why is he so nervous? Because mister Rosell lies? Today, after seeing his reaction, I am increasingly convinced that he didn't only want to inform me, but also wanted it to go through. If before I was angry about his attitude, today, as president of FC Barcelona, and as Barcelona fan, I am getting even more indignant because he dares to deny it."

Thursday
A story about the case published two weeks earlier by British tabloid The Sun shows up in the Catalan press. In the report, a Chelsea spokesman denies that the English Premier League club has offered a commission fee and is quoted as saying: "It's total nonsense. We never made such an offer."

Thursday-Friday
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Chelsea wants Laporta to rectify what he has said in his book and has contacted Spanish law firm Garrigues. Laporta could next week be summoned through a letter to erase the references to the English club and their offer in the digital version of the book.

Other media have taken over the report. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that a notarial affidavit has been sent to Laporta asking to withdraw the book of the market. Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims that Rosell could also summon Laporta to deny the story or even to withdraw the book.

Read more:
Guixa wants clarification on Ronaldinho commission
Benedito wants to be the third way
Rosell wanted commission fee for sale Ronaldinho

Rexach seriously considering to run for president

Asked if he, as promised, will take part in the elections now that a Facebook group in his support has reached the required number of 5000 members (read more here), former Barcelona player and manager Carles Rexach has said in an interview with Catalan television channel Canal Català that he is considering the option:

"It started as a joke but now I'm seriously thinking about it because a lot of important people are calling me to ask what I will do. It would be like the bellboy ending up as the general director. But there's still a lot of time left to analyze the pro's and the contra's. Now could be the right moment because it seems as if everything goes well and that only a couple of things should be adjusted.

If I put a step forward, it should in any case be with a serious project. Therefore you need a team with the same qualities as the players of Barça, all aces. It's not an ego thing because I've already overcome that. The president should in the end only be at the second or third row because the exits come through the coaches and the players."

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, Rexach said: "Now I have to consider this. Although I like joking, I'm a serious guy and to take a decision like this one you need to analyze things because Barça is a very serious institution.

People like me can now consider running. Thirty years ago you needed a certain reputation, which I don't have, but the world has moved on and now everyone can take part if they fulfil the conditions set out by the statutes of the club. I admit I am surprised by how people react to this. When I'm going somewhere now, everybody calls me 'president'.

What I do know is that I wouldn't get involved in politics. For me, sports and politics should be separated because there's already enough politics in the world of sports. Alliances? I could reach an agreement with anyone because I have a good relationship with everyone, although I have the most contact with Sandro Rosell."

Read more:
Rexach has Facebook support he asked for
Llaurado admits talks with Minguella and Rexach
Poll result: Would Rexach be good president?

Candidates disapprove Laporta's party behaviour

Barcelona presidential candidates Agustí Benedito and Jaume Guixà have reacted in an interview with Catalan newspaper El Periódico to the pictures published on Tuesday by Madrid newspaper La Gaceta of Barcelona president Joan Laporta celebrating the win over Real Madrid at the Luz de Gas night club in Barcelona last Monday morning.

Benedito told the paper that Laporta "wasn't up to the mark", while Guixà said that "this was his most recent performance, but not the only one. President of Barça is something you are 24/7. He can do what he wants, but he should do it at his place." At a press conference, Guixà later added that he would have celebrated with Catalan cava instead of with champagne.

While former Barcelona director Albert Vicens, who was the first vice-president of the club from 2003 to 2008 (read more here) and could also take part in the elections, said that he "didn't recognize that Laporta", presidential candidate Sandro Rosell told La Gaceta that he preferred "not to comment and to wait until the start of the election campaign".

Former presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella, who might again run for president next year (read more here), showed his disappointment in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser about the decision of the Catalan sports papers not to publish the images:

"The press always has to watch public figures like the president of Barça and they should report on their acts, also those that can be criticized like in this case. Maybe their decision could be linked to the fact that an important part of their revenues comes from merchandising that needs the approval of Barça."

Read more:
Laporta: "I believe in Sala i Martin"
Will former super-agent run for president?
Poll Result: Is Laporta a good president?

Rosell sounding out Fernando Torres

Madrid sports tabloid As claimed last week that Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has been in contact with Liverpool forward and Spanish international Fernando Torres (25) to sound him out on a possible transfer at the end of the current season.

The relationship between Torres and Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez wouldn't be very good and the striker would therefore be considering to leave the English Premier league club next summer. Torres reportedly prefers to return to Spain and Barcelona could then been his first option.

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser confirmed that Rosell is working on both the transfers of Torres and Arsenal midfielder Cesc (read more here). The talks with Torres would be very advanced and the Spanish striker could sign for Barcelona if Rosell is elected as new president of the club next year.

Read more:
Barcelona wants to tie down Ribery before elections
The Rosell Project - Part 2: The Team
Barcelona wants to sign Cesc before elections