[picture] The children of Sandro Rosell

The candidacy of Sandro Rosell organized this week an event for children at their campaign headquarters.

[video] The campaign song of Jaume Ferrer

The candidacy of Jaume Ferrer presented this week their campaign song, that has as central theme "I'm happy, I don't want to change, we'll keep on winning". It's a cover of the song 'I gotta feeling' by American hip hop group Black Eyed Peas

Ingla: "I will be a very quiet president"

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


As a former sports vice-president, so an expert of the sports area, which things have to be changed?
It is something the technical department should decide. When I was vice-president, the most important thing were the demands of the coach and my task was to explain them to the board.

Do you agree with transfers before the elections?
The club has to follow its own pace and if there are operations that are ready to be closed, they should be closed so that the new players can start following the rhythm of the club, the plans for the physical preparation can be drawn up, etcetera...

Signing players now is more expensive?
It depends. If the economic positions are close, you should not wait any longer and finish things. If there is a difference, I would ask them to be cautious and if you have to wait two more weeks, you wait.

Don't you think, however, that the president is eager to leave a legacy as far as players are concerned?
I don't know if that's the reason. When you're the president of Barça, you have to act in the benefit of the club. Always. If you ask yourself the question what will be best for the club, you'll always make the best decision.

You totally exclude that you will yourself announce a transfer?
Yes, although it is true that our candidacy has received many phone calls offering us players. If there is something interesting, we pass the information to the club.

You will try to convince Txiki to stay?
Yes, and I have ideas to explain to him, regarding the technical department. If he feels comfortable, I'll be delighted.

Txiki has had to deal with a lot of criticism...
He has been able to build this successful model. He was an architect of this model. Rijkaard gave us balance and Pep brought it to the highest level. He told me that the era of Rijkaard was over and that Pep was the natural choice.

Which other coaches did you have in mind, apart from Mourinho...
Ernesto Valverde and Laurent Blanc, and then later there also was Michael Laudrup. We did not talk with them because Pep was always the first option. We met with him and his enthusiasm convinced us.

Your opponents don't hesitate to say that you wanted Mourinho...
That is false and anyone who says otherwise isn't telling the truth. He wanted to coach Barça, he still has friends in Barcelona, he knew the club and the way of playing. At that time he didn't have a job and we wanted to get to know his virtues and defects. These were clear. The coach of Barça is the image of the club. And Mourinho was not the right person and that is what I told the president. I have witnesses.

He is the right person for Madrid?
I guess so, because Madrid goes from one side to another, they do not have a defined line.

What do you think about the project of Florentino?
I do not care that much about what the opponent is doing. But I think it is irresponsible to spend a seemingly unlimited budget. We have an opposite model.

Oliver will stay if you win?
Mister Oliver only joined the club in this last phase and although he has contributed to the success of this model, we are looking for another profile.

How can the club grow in terms of merchandising?
The big area of growth is the internationalization. Today we are the club with the most television viewers. People are excited about our style of play. Efforts should be made to capitalize on that in markets such as China, India, Asia, Africa, South America and the United States. If today around ten percent of the revenues of the club come from international business, that should be fourty percent in four or six years from now.

Unicef?
It's an incredible help for the image of the club. It helps us to defend a series of values.

The big teams should defend a television model similar to that of the Premier League.
The current model, negotiating the rights individually, is going very well. Changing it would be an adventure. If there is a collective model that ensures that we can stay competitive, we must look at it.

Is this the challenge of your life?
The challenge was to become sports vice-president after two years without any titles. We couldn't make mistakes. And the team ended up being the Barça of the six cups. Now I don't feel any pressure, I deal with it naturally and I feel very well surrounded.

What kind of president do you want to be?
One who accurately represents the club, a team player, with experienced people, but also picking up fresh ideas from new board members and, finally, a very quiet president.

this was the second and last part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Ingla wants global youth academy
Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections
Ingla denies he didn't want Unicef on shirt

interview: ramiro martín-llanos

Benedito introduces "associate" and "barcelonista"

Speaking at a press conference, Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito has explained his plans for the social area of the club, which would include introducing two new concepts - besides that of club member - of being linked with the club: the "associate" and the "barcelonista".

While the concept of "associate" would have some concrete economic and other compensations and would be something for the local fans, the concept of "barcelonista" would be specifically for foreign fans. Both new ways of feeling part of the club wouldn't include the right to vote.

Read more:
Benedito could limit number of club members
Benedito: "They paid too much for Ibrahimovic"
Benedito says others have political and media links

Weekly Round-Up (25): The Final Four

Every week an overview of the posts from this blog, written by Xaviniesta, is published on Barcelona news site totalBarca.

The collection of 2,095 signatures of support needed by the candidates to qualify them for the final vote on June 13 ended on Tuesday with four out of seven candidates beating the deadline.

Sandro Rosell delivered an impressive 13,618 signatures, followed by Marc Ingla with 4,744, Jaume Ferrer with 4.442, and Agusti Benedito with 2896. Pre-candidates Santiago Salvat, Jaume Guixa and Alexis Plaza failed to present their support slips and are considered dropped from the race.

Earlier reports indicated that Rosell completed the required 2,095 signatures days ahead of the June 1 deadline. Rosell earlier requested the board to allow him to use his nickname “Sandro” instead of his given name “Alexandre” which is printed on the support slips, but his appeal was rejected by the electoral board.

>>> read the complete weekly round-up here

The Quotes: Benedito, Ingla, Ferrer, Rosell

"50% of the voters didn't yet make a decision. And I think the vote of the other 50% could still change."

Agustí Benedito


"We've received information regarding Wayne Rooney and we've passed that through to Txiki."

Marc Ingla


"You have to stand up to the hooligans and not make pictures with them, as some have been doing."

Jaume Ferrer


"I expected some rumours or some little lies but it seems people have invested quite a bit of money in investigations. But I guess in the end it's good people talk about you, for good or for bad."

Sandro Rosell

read more election quotes here

[picture] The football table of Marc Ingla

Albert Vicens and Alfons Godall playing a game of table football at the headquarters of Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla.

[2003] Rosell and Txiki meeting with Hiddink

source: el mundo deportivo, friday 6 june 2003, page 4

Txiki met with Hiddink in Cannes

Both were planning the upcoming transfers with Sandro Rosell

Txiki Begiristain met at the Carlton hotel in Cannes with Guus Hiddink, the coach who has become champions with PSV in Holland and who led South Korea during the 2002 World Cup. Txiki, Hiddink and Rosell will form the sports management of the club if Laporta becomes president.

Rosell himself joined the meeting, arriving from Paris via Nice. The three examined the future operations of the candidacy and the next decisions to be taken. Guus Hiddink, as we have been informed, is delighted with the project they have presented to him.

check more 2003 election stories

Ferrer: "You have to consider where the club was"

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo.

translation: archie valparaiso

Yours is a candidacy that "continues the legacy", but are you planning on changing anything?
There's always room for improvement, particularly in the sports area. In the financial area, we need to generate more income to invest in the sports and assets project, particularly in the membership area, to make life more comfortable for the members. We need to improve access to the stadium and renovate it. We also need to have more instruments in place to make relations with members more streamlined and direct - by offering them help with travel, for example.

Do you consider David Villa's signing to be yours?
It belongs to FC Barcelona, but it's true that it's been sorted while we have been on the board of directors.

Has doing it that way been a strategy?
It's been done that way because it was possible to do it that way. In the past, most signings have taken place as soon as the competitions have finished.

Do you know what kind of contract you'd offer Guardiola yet?
Yes.

Will it be a long one or a short one?
We'll talk it over with him on the 14th of June, but I'm not very much in favour of long contracts. The idea is not to change anything in the sports area, and for him, Txiki [Begiristain] and [José Ramón] Alexanko to continue

Will you be able to convince Txiki?
After our latest conversations with him, I'm convinced that we will, yes.

Does Pep Guardiola deserve a rise?
His salary should be realistic.

Are you happy to be associated with "Laportism"?
I don't like "isms" of any kind. Over the last seven years some great things were achieved, and the chairman was Joan Laporta. And we were the ones who were there. The club has been very well managed and that must continue. The less that's messed about with, the better.

What kind of relationship do you have with the chairman?
We've had our ups and downs, but we get along fine now.

Do you feel comfortable having his support?
Yes, and I'm very grateful to him, because we've shared seven years of hard work. The results are very positive. We've made some mistakes that we've learned a lot from and we hope won't be repeated. The complete change in Barça between 2003 and 2010 is what we've achieved together.

Does having Laporta's support give you an advantage?
I don't know. It's more a plus than a setback, but what counts is that we've made it to the end still together despite having disagreed on occasion.

Have you got a managing director in mind if you win?
That's something to be discussed after the first of July. Joan Oliver and I have had some incidents that weren't very pleasant, but he's doing a good job.

Don't you think the members would like to know whether Oliver is going to continue or not?
The club's executives have functioned very well, because we've risen from thirteenth in the world, with income of 120 million, to the very top, with over 400 million. If Oliver earns my confidence, he'll continue, but it's not an issue that I'm overly worried about.

Why didn't you resign over the spying affair?
Because I was a member of the board. It's other people who should have resigned. I'm only too aware of our responsibility to the members. At that time, we were in the [Spanish] Cup Final, about to win La Liga and in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Our role is to help to keep the institution stable and I think that my decision was the right one, because we did go on to win all three trophies.

Do you include the chairman among those who should have resigned?
I'm not including anyone. That's not for me to do.

Who do you mean then?
Those who might have been involved.

Do you think Laporta knew all about it?
No. He told me he knew nothing about it, and if he says he didn't know, then he didn't know.

What mistakes has the chairman made?
I'm sure he's made some. You have to bear in mind that as chairman you're under pressure from everyone around you, a non-stop pressure that you have to be able to deal with. And Laporta has. He's been able to hold steady and make decisions, most of which have been the right ones.

Have you ever felt embarrassed by anything that Laporta has done?
What I've felt is great pleasure for the six trophies last year, over 65 trophies in all during over our term of office, the basketball Euroliga, the handball and hockey cups, how much we've grown, the international recognition... I feel very proud of Barça because of all that. I'm not concerned about anything other than that. I'm sure there are some things that could have been done differently or perhaps better, but you have to consider where the club was in 2003, where it is today and what its image is all over the world now.

Will you maintain the Foster [new Camp Nou] project?
It must stick to the improvements that we want, above all to cover all the stands and put in more lifts. It needs to be a competitive stadium to generate more income, like in the England or Germany. We want the refurbishment of the stadium not to be too extravagant but done with common sense. We can't spend 340 million euros or even half that. If Foster can do it, then that's perfect.

this was the first part of this interview. you will be able to read the second part on this blog in the coming days.

Read more:
Ferrer: "What is working should not be touched"
Rosell, Ingla, Ferrer and Benedito official candidates
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: oriol domènech - sergi solé - josé luis artús

[picture] Sandro Rosell and his sofa

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has been travelling throughout Catalonia for the past few weeks to explain his program to the club members and fans.

The Quotes: Benedito, Ferrer, Bartomeu, Ingla

"The weak point of Rosell? Let me ask you a question. What's the strong point of Rosell?"

Agustí Benedito


"It seems difficult that the campaign will be a clean one."

Jaume Ferrer


"It should be easy to sign Cesc after he has publicly said that he wants to join Barça."

Josep Maria Bartomeu


"We have a note from a Brazilian law firm that confirms that a company of Sandro Rosell is involved in a judicial investigation for possible fraud, so in this case Sandro Rosell has been and is lying."

Marc Ingla

read more election quotes here

Rosell has concrete plan to limit club members

Asked about a possible limitation of the number of club members, Jordi Cardoner [picture, on the left], head of the social area of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell, has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that they have a concrete plan to put a stop to the growth of new members:

"We think that the idea of unlimited growth promoted by the board was socially not correct. It would have been terrible if we today would have had 750.000 or 1.000.000 club members as was mentioned back then. We think that we should put a stop to the growth so that the current members really could enjoy the benefits of being a member.

What we will do is announce a period of three months during which everyone who isn't yet a member can make the decision of becoming it. After that period, only two groups could become a member: family members in the first or second degree of a member, or children who would be given the chance to grow up with the club."

Read more:
Rosell wants to regulate new members
Ingla wants to appoint club ambassadors
Cardoner: "The member always has the last word"

Rosell, Ingla, Ferrer and Benedito official candidates

Barcelona board secretary Josep Cubells has this evening announced that Barcelona presidential candidates Sandro Rosell, Marc Ingla, Jaume Ferrer and Agustí Benedito have passed the cut of the 2.095 signatures of club members needed to take part in the final vote on Sunday 13 June.

These are the official numbers:
- Rosell: 12.635 validated signatures (13.620 presented - 985 invalid)
- Ingla: 4.288 validated signatures (4.744 presented - 456 invalid)
- Ferrer: 3.935 validated signatures (4.442 presented - 507 invalid)
- Benedito: 2.520 validated signatures (2.896 presented - 376 invalid)

Read more:
The final number of signatures of support
The electoral proceedings
The process of collecting the signatures

Cartoon 40: Ferrer wants to resemble Laporta more

* JANME FERRER
The best club in the world is Catalan. They can learn from it. *

Ferrer:
To compete with Alexandre Rosell, I will have to 'laportazize' a bit more...

...so don't be surprised if you see me with this mask tomorow.


(click the cartoon to enlarge)


by caye

source:
sport

check more election cartoons here

Inter hopes to sign Guardiola after elections

Italian newspaper La Repubblica claims that Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is the number one candidate to replace José Mourinho as coach of Inter Milan. The Italian club would be postponing the decision on their new manager until after the presidential elections at Barcelona.

Because of a supposed total lack of feeling between presidential candidate Sandro Rosell and Guardiola, Inter reportedly think they have a chance to sign the Catalan coach if Rosell is elected as new president on Sunday 13 June.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Guardiola wants to meet with the new president on 14 June to learn first hand about the future of the sports area, among other things about who could become the new sports director. Guardiola would continue next season and the signing of a new contract isn't considered to be a problem.

Read more:
Rosell wants Guardiola for six more years
Poll result: Would Guardiola be a good president?
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"

Most read of the month

these were the five most read blog posts during the past month of may:


1.
The program of Sandro Rosell

2.
Daughter of Stoichkov joins Plaza candidacy

3.
Rosell wants to regulate new members

4.
Poll result: Who would you vote for?

5.
Rosell to file lawsuit against Ingla

Check the most read blog posts of:
October
November
December
January
February
March
April

[picture] Marc Ingla and Alicia Keys

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla assisted yesterday a concert by American singer Alicia Keys in Barcelona.

Rosell considers Koeman as sports director

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that former Barcelona player Ronald Koeman (47) could replace Txiki Begiristain as sports director of Barcelona if Sandro Rosell would be elected as president on Sunday 13 June.

Although no final decision has yet been made, people of the candidacy of Rosell would have been talking with Koeman, who hasn't been active as coach since he was dismissed last December by Dutch club AZ and who now regularly works as television pundit for the Dutch television.

Ronald Koeman played six seasons for Barcelona, arriving in 1989 from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven and leaving in the summer of 1995 for Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam. From the summer of 1998 until the year 2000, he was the assistant coach of Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal.

With Barcelona, Koeman won four consecutive Spanish league titles from 1991 to 1994, a Spanish cup in 1990, three Spanish Super Cups in 1991, 1992 and 1994, one Champions Leauge in 1992 and one European Super Cup in 1992. As assistant, he won one league title in 1999.

Read more:
Zubizarreta main option to replace Begiristain
Txiki: "My future will depend on new president"
Former player Amor supports candidacy Rosell

The Quotes: Rosell, Ingla, Ferrer, Benedito

"We're all again starting from zero."

Sandro Rosell


"We've come out from the first minute trying to win this game and we've only played the first minutes."

Marc Ingla


"I feel that a lot of people are changing their voting intention now that they start to know all projects better."

Jaume Ferrer


"The feeling I have is that Sandro Rosell won't win these elections. The member doesn't like it that others decide in his place."

Agustí Benedito

read more election quotes here

Cartoon 39: Rosell overpowers opponents

* Rosell shows his electoral muscles

13.618 signatures *

(click the cartoon to enlarge)


by kap

source:
el mundo deportivo

check more election cartoons here

The final number of signatures of support

These are the final numbers of signatures of club members that were collected by the pre-candidates in the elections for president of FC Barcelona:

Sandro Rosell 13.618
Marc Ingla 4.744
Jaume Ferrer 4.442
Agustí Benedito 2.896
Jaume Guixà 1.845
Alexis Plaza 1.209
Santiago Salvat ?

The signatures of the four pre-candidates with the most support among club members were brought to the club and will be checked in the coming days. To pass the cut of the signatures and to be able to take part in the final vote on 13 June, candidates should have 2.095 validated signatures.

Alexis Plaza didn't present his signatures but brought them to a notary who counted and destroyed them. Jaume Guixà and Santiago Salvat didn't present their signatures eiter. Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Salvat in the end would have collected around 1.100 signatures.

Read more:
Live Coverage: End of signatures process

[picture] Sandro Rosell and member number 1

Barcelona club member number one, Jaume Descals i Sanmartí, gave on Monday morning his signature of support to the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell.

[2003] Rosell to London to close Beckham deal

source: el mundo deportivo, tuesday 3 june 2003, page 5

Final offensive for Beckham

Sandro Rosell travels today to England to try to close the last details of the contract of Beckham

The candidacy of Joan Laporta has launched the final assault to seal the transfer of David Beckham to FC Barcelona if they get elected on the 15th.

The agreement with Manchester United is a done deal, but there are some last points of the negotiations left to be sort out tonight between Sandro Rosell and executive director Peter Kenyon at a dinner that will be held in an excellent restaurant in London, where both parties already met before.

Rosell will also meet with the representatives of English star player who are grouped into the company 'sfx', based in northern England but with offices in London, and that is led by Tony Stephens, the theoretical manager of 'Becks'.

check more 2003 election stories

Live Coverage: End of signatures process

We will follow live the last hours of the process of the collection of the club members and explain what has happened today. Candidates should have 2.095 validated signatures to take part in the final vote. The deadline is at 9 pm tonight. Re-fresh!

The first candidate to come out today was Sandro Rosell. At 12:30 pm he gave a press conference in which he explained that he until that moment had collected 13.491 signatures.

7:00 pm Jaume Ferrer and members of his candidacy walking to the offices of the Camp Nou with the boxes containing the signatures. Ferrer confirmed this afternoon that he has collected 4.422 signatures.

7:20 pm Sandro Rosell is on his way to the Camp Nou with his whole board team in six cars. The candidacy would in the end have collected 13.603 signatures.

7:30 pm Sandro Rosell has arrived at the Camp Nou with the boxes with in the end 13.618 signatures. The candidate is in the centre of the picture, at the left is Jordi Cardoner, who will become social vice-president if Rosell is elected as president.

7:40 pm The candidacy of Marc Ingla announces that they have collected 4.756 signatures. The former vice-president is on his way to the Camp Nou.

8:00 pm This afternoon, Alexis Plaza has announced that his candidacy has collected 1.209 signatures, that have already been destroyed by a notary so they won't affect the signatures of the other candidates nor canbe used in the future. Around 6 pm, Plaza came to the Camp Nou to formally step out of the race.

8:30 pm The board team of Marc Ingla arrives with in the end 4.744 signatures. At the left of Ingla there's Victor Font, at the right Carme Miró, behind him Ferran Soriano and Albert Vicens.

8:45 Presidential candidates Jaume Guixà and Santiago Salvat haven't passed the cut although it's not yet known how many signatures they have collected.

9:00 pm Agustí Benedito also passes the cut with 2.847 signatures.

Xavi has a favourite candidate in the elections

Asked about the upcoming elections for president of FC Barcelona, Barcelona player Xavi Hernández, who won't be able to vote because he will be on South Africa to take part in the World Cup, has said that he has a preference although he won't reveal it:

"Honestly, I have a favourite candidate and I hope that he will win. But I have to keep a bit out of all this, also because I won't even be able to vote. I would ask the new president only one thing: that he leaves Guardiola alone so he can do his job and that he assures the continuity of the current sports model."

Read more:
Abidal wants current directors to win elections
Iniesta and Xavi on the elections
Puyol: "Players will stay out of the elections"

At least three television debates next week

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that at least three television debates will be held ahead of the elections for president of FC Barcelona on Sunday 13 June, although it is not yet clear if the candidates actually willl take part in all three or if they will be represented by other members of their candidacy.

The three debates that would already be confirmed will be broadcasted by Spanish television channel TVE on Tuesday 8 June, by Catalan television channel 8tv on Thursday 10 June and by Catalan television channel TV3 on Friday 11 June. Only in the last debate the candidates to become president will certainly take part.

A series of other debates could be scheduled by Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio on Monday 7 June, by Catalan television channel Barcelona Televisió on Wednesday 9 June and by Spanish radio station Cadena SER on Thursday 10 June.

Read more:
There could be up to six electorals debates

[picture] Josep Maria Minguella at the fair

Former Barcelona presidential candidate Josep Maria Minguella, part of the candidacy of Santiago Salvat, on campaign.

The Quotes: Plaza, Benedito, Rosell, Laporta, Ferrer

"I've never believed in a pact between Ferrer and Ingla. I would think that a deal between Ferrer and Rosell is more likely."

Alexis Plaza


"I will not use private jets if I'm elected as president."

Agustí Benedito


"We cannot have agreements with a country like Uzbekistan."

Sandro Rosell


"If mister Rosell want to act in a populist way, he might start to stop his relationship with Scolari, who has been a coach in Uzbekistan."

Joan Laporta


"When in the past the outgoing president didn't take part in the elections, the favourite has never won."

Jaume Ferrer

read more election quotes here

Benedito, Salvat, Guixa and Plaza struggling with signatures

The three main Catalan sports papers agree today that Barcelona presidential candidates Sandro Rosell, Jaume Ferrer and Marc Ingla will certainly pass the cut of the 2.095 signatures that should be delivered tomorrow. Rosell would clearly present the most signatures.

From the other four candidates, Benedito would be the closest to pass the cut although it would be close. The three remaining candidates - Santiago Salvat, Jaume Guixà and Alexis Plaza - would almost certainly not obtain the signatures needed and would have to leave the race.

Read more:
The process of collecting the signatures
How many people will be able to vote?
The electoral proceedings

Former player Amor supports candidacy Rosell

In his weekly column in Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, former Barcelona player Guillermo Amor (42), who has been the head of Barcelona's youth academy from 2003 to 2007 and who is now acting as television pundit, has given his support to Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell:

"You, Sandro, have been preparing this for a long time, working in silence, respecting everyone, and that's what you keep doing. Elections are won with ideas, projects. You, Sandro, I think that you're there for the people, that you're there for all. I like you because you want to unite the fans. You want a plural club, a club of everyone.

I like you because I've seen you in action, for your ability to make decisions, for how you address problems and solve them. You use heart and head. You have credibility because you have won it and there are many members who are with you and who don't get carried away by anything or anyone. I respect all candidates, of course, but I think your time has come."

Read more:
Ex-players Amor and Migueli linked with Rosell
Salvat talking with ex-players Stoichkov and Ferrer
Zubizarreta main option to replace Begiristain

Plaza: "I hope to run again in 2022"

This blog had an exclusive interview with Barcelona presidential candidate Alexis Plaza.


We're less than 48 hours before the end of the collecting of the signatures. How many signatures do you have in your hands at this moment?
We have around half of them. We still need to collect more the coming day and a half. What I can assure is that we will work until the last minute.

When did you first think about running for president of FC Barcelona?
It has been in my mind for many years and I believed it shouldn't just stay a dream. I thought this was the best moment to act and that I can give many good things to the club.

When did you actually start working on the campaign for the 2010 elections?
A group of us started talking about the details in August of last year and we continued growing until today.

John Benjamin Toshack is your stepfather. Are there any players from the Welsh national team that have the qualities to play at Barça?
I have many respect for all Welsh players, but I believe there is at this moment none that could meet the profile to play in Barça.

You want to attract a shirt sponsor because of the 20 millions the club could get. Isn't that a short-term view? Won't the club lose - or attract less - fans which will make us lose more than those 20 millions in for example merchandising and television rights?
If we win games, we will always have good television rights. We have always said that we will continue helping UNICEF but we need an extra income that could come from a second sponsor. This could be achieved by sharing the shirt or putting another sponsor on the training outfit.

What do you think about the campaign so far?
It's dirty and that's not good for the club and the members. And I think it will get worse.

You have said that Sandro Rosell has been talking several times with the Boixos Nois. Are you sure of that? When and where did they meet?
We have been informed by people from other groups that they all sat together to talk. This is not necesarily a bad thing as there are people that identify themselves as Boixos Nois but are against violence.

Your campaign budget is around 3.200 euros. How much do you have left and how did you spend it?
It's in the end 3.400-3.500 euros. As soon as the process of the signatures ends, we will publish all of our costs.

You have given up your job for this campaign while Spain is going through a the biggest economic crisis of recent times. Some people see that as a proof that you are a rich kid for whom running for president is just another game.
The credit crunch is does not only affets Spain, it's something worldwide. I have always demonstrated that whatever I have been involved in, I have done it my own way. We are demonstrating that in these difficult times we must optimize all resources and that's why we are only spending a small budget. I would be more worried about those spending millions in their campaign.

What do you want to do regarding the globalization of the club? Do you agree that this should be the number one priority of the club right now?
The priority is to pay the debt we have and to continue having a good team. This will give us a good position for all the rest.

Do you plan to continue with the "Somni blaugrana" project after the elections and for example prepare the elections of 2016?
I hope that if I will get another chance to give my best for the club, this will be in 2022. I will always wish that the next president can serve his maximum term because that would mean a lot of wins and trophies for Barça. It is not an easy decision to run again in the future. We will have to see if we can offer a good project to the member.

Which question you have heard the most during this campaign and you're sick of answering?
Do you have the bank guarantee?

Which question didn't you hear one time during this campaign, while you would have liked to answer it?
Do you think you can be the best Barça president in history?

Who will you vote for if you don't pass the cut of the signatures?
I will vote for no one. I will keep on believing that our project is the best over all.

Many thanks for this interview and good luck in the final hours of the collection of the signatures.

Read more:
Benedito: "The media already have their favourites"
Cardoner: "The member always has the last word"
Guixa: "I reaffirm that the club is almost bankrupt"

[picture] Jaume Ferrer and the Barça shirt

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer donated a shirt signed by all Barcelona players that will be sold by auction to collect funds for research on a muscle disease.

Cartoon 38: Rosell appearing on scene

Rosell:
Members of Barça!!

I have arrived!!

(click the cartoon to enlarge)


by alex

source:
golsud

see more cartoons here

Most read of the week

these were the three most read blog posts of the past week:


1.
Rosell to file lawsuit against Ingla

2.
Rosell: "We can't afford to relax now"

3.
Ingla wants to appoint club ambassadors

The remodelling plan of Santiago Salvat

This is the plan of Barcelona presidential candidate Santiago Salvat to remodel the Camp Nou (read more here). Four rows of seats will be added in the whole stadium and the roof over part of the stadium will be lifted.

The Quotes: Ferrer, Ingla, Benedito, Rosell, Plaza

"I want to challenge mister Sandro Rosell for a face-to-face debate. Him against me. One on one. If he doesn't accept the proposal, that's maybe because he has things to hide."

Jaume Ferrer


"Whatever price the current board agrees for Cesc, if we're elected, we will and can pay it."

Marc Ingla


"They've told me that during the last league game at the Camp Nou, key members of the Boixos Nois were distributing propaganda for Sandro Rosell."

Agustí Benedito


"The signing of Mourinho is great for the Liga and for Madrid. It will again be a tough league but Barça will keep on winning trophies."

Sandro Rosell


"For who will I vote if I don't pass the cut? No one. Blank ballot."

Alexis Plaza

read more election quotes here

Several top players offered to candidates

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that several players have in the past days and weeks been offered to Barcelona presidential candidates and to directors who are still part of the board, while candidates on the other hand are also sounding out players.

The players who are being linked with a possible move to Barcelona this summer are: Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Alexandre Pato (AC Milan) and Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid).

Read more:
Torres not willing to negotiate with candidates
Candidates are trying to interfere in transfer talks
Rosell linked with Valencia winger Mata

[2003] The collection of the signatures has ended

source: el mundo deportivo, sunday 1 june 2003, page 1

First round for Bassat

Extraordinary Barcelona atmosphere throughout the day of the delivery of the signatures

Llauradó is in a solid second place and Laporta is the real revelation

Martínez Rovira and Minguella will try to achieve a great result at the polls

Medina and Casas didn't pass the cut


Bassat 9.894 signatures

Llauradó 6.057 signatures

Laporta 5.725 signatures

Martínez Rovira 2.827 signatures

Minguella 2.286 signatures

Majó 1.852 signatures

check more 2003 election stories

[picture] Marc Ingla and member number 18

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla has received the support of Barcelona club member number 18, 89 year-old Maria Rojas Olsina, who personally came to the seat of the candidacy to give her signature.