[video] The remodelling plan of Sandro Rosell

This is the project of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell to remodel the Camp Nou and the surroundings of the stadium.

[picture] Ingla and his PlayStation

Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ingla playing a game of football on PlayStation during a tournament organized at his headquarters.

Rosell to file lawsuit against Ingla

Asked about a corruption case in Brasil he is involved in, Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has said to journalists before a meeting with Barcelona supporters this evening that he does not want to talk about the issue and that he plans to file a claim against Marc Ingla, who also runs for president:

"Well, we're disappointed. I have not been officially accused. This is slander. This offends my honour so we need to act. Marc Ingla has crossed the line so tomorrow we will take legal action against him. This needs to stop, we demand for a clean campaign.

We should talk about Barça and the projects we have for the club because the member is not interested in all this. I ask all candidates to stop talking about the subject and I certainly will not talk about it anymore from now on."

Asked about the case, Ingla had said this morning in an interview with Catalan television channel TV3 that it seems Rosell had been charged. When the presenter corrected him and said that we were actually so far only in the stage of investigation, Ingla rectified saying that he's not familiar with legal terminology.

This evening, Ingla repeated in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that he used the wrong legal term and apologized for any misunderstandings that this could have caused. He also asked that Rosell would give further explanation about the case.

Read more:
Rosell: "Guardiola represents our core values"
There could be up to six electorals debates
Ingla: "We will change the style of government"

[2003] Klaus Toppmöller, the coach of Medina

source: el mundo deportivo, thursday 22 may 2003, page 10

Toppmöller, the coach of Medina

Together with the German, two to four players of his confidence will join, while the candidate is already close to deals with four players

Klaus Toppmöller, who led Bayer Leverkusen to be the runner-up in the Champions League, the league and the cup in 2002, has reached an almost total agreement with Jordi Medina to take place on the bench if the candidate wins the election.

The president of the platform 'A Crit Valent' confirmed yesterday that "on Thursday or Friday, at the latest, I will close the deal with him in Barcelona. We have had several conversations and I have his permission to confirm this".

Medina explained that the German "has other very interesting offers but he already knows our project and he likes it". The candidate added that 'Toppi' "would not come alone. He will bring two to four players he knows". The presidential candidate said that contacts with Toppmöller, the best coach of 2002 in Germany, came after the 'transfer' of Johan Neeskens didn't go through.

check more 2003 election stories

Seven board members continue until 30 June

The resignations of Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall, Jaume Ferrer [picture, on the right], Joan Boix and Albert Perrín, and of Barcelona directors Jordi Torrent, Alfonso Castro, Patrick Auset, Magda Oranich, Josep Ignasi Macià and Xavier Bagués have yesterday been accepted during a meeting of the Barcelona board.

The ten members of the board were forced to resign because they will be officially part of a candidacy in the presidential elections on Sunday 13 June. Apart from Godall, who supports former Barcelona marketing and sports vice-president Marc Ingla, all other directors who left are part of the candidacy of Jaume Ferrer.

A board of seven people will now govern the club until 30 June, with president Joan Laporta sports vice-president Rafael Yuste [picture, on the left], secretary Josep Cubells, treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, and directors Jacint Borràs, Josep Anton Colomer and Maria Elena Fort staying in office. Sala i Martín is expected to leave the club at the end of this term, while the other six support the candidacy of Jaume Ferrer.

Read more:
Sala i Martin to leave the club in July
Ferrer gets new support from board members
Godall resigns as director ahead of the elections

Ayats: "We have a model and experience"

Carles Ayats, a member of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer, gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Ferrer uses to say that he wants to continue with the current management model, but changing the style of governing...
Yes, we want a president who appears less in the media, because we believe that the spotlights should be on the players and the coaches.

You announced quite soon that you would take part, but it has not been easy so far. First you disagreed with Laporta, now you have his support, there was the famous spying case... The members could penalize these changes of opinion?
No, Jaume has come out of these events stronger since his leadership has been recognized. He has always managed to deal with the pressure and to stay committed to the club, not like other directors who chose to leave. It was not easy to form a consensus candidacy, and the member will value that.

Ferrer has enough charisma and popularity to win the elections?
Without any doubt. The members surely appreciate the fact that Jaume has been a director since 2003 and that he has not appeared in the media until now. This shows that he has always focused on managing the club well.

But some polls suggest Sandro Rosell is the favorite. Do you believe them?
What I think is that it is clear to the member that to continue winning our project is more secure, because we have a model and the experience of the past years. The polls show a positive trend for Jaume, and we are optimistic.

Which of his virtues would you highlight?
It's a great candidate who has always wanted to be president of Barça. I would highlight his experience, commitment, teamwork, leadership, mental strength at delicate times...

As a member of the current board, Ferrer will certainly be ask for explanations on some of the latest decisions of the board. What do you think about the appointment of Johan Cruyff as honorary president?
We think it's positive, although we also think it should have been done earlier because he already deserved it for a long time.

There's also a lot of talk about pacts. Can you confirm that you won't do it?
We want to get to the final vote alone because we have a strong project. For the moment, we are not considering anything else and if they offer us a pact one day, that should always be with Jaume as leader of the candidacy.

And what would your contribution to the candidacy be?
As an economist and an administrator, I believe I can bring, first of all, a fresh view on things. I am 39 years old, the same as Jaume when he arrived at the club, and I hope to add enthusiasm, ability to think and hard work.

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

Read more:
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"
Ferrer presenting three new team members
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: dani colmena

The Quotes: Salvat, Ferrer, Ingla, Rosell, Laporta

"We will reduce the price of the season-tickets by 40%."

Santiago Salvat


"Now is the time when the club members are starting to get interested in the candidates and their program."

Jaume Ferrer


"With more than 400 million fans worldwide, Barça is a global feeling."

Marc Ingla


"I'm not against the collective sale of the television right, but only in case it doesn't harm us."

Sandro Rosell


"Sandro Rosell will put in danger the current sports model."

Joan Laporta

read more election quotes here

[picture] Jaume Guixa on patrol

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Guixà uses a couple of these cars to collect the signatures of the club members.

There could be up to six electorals debates

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that six radio stations and television channels want to organize a presidential debate ahead of the elections on Sunday 13 June. All of them would want a debate between the actual candidates although some might agree with a debate between the numbers two of each candidacy.

The majority of the candidates would be very willing to take part in the debates, especially Marc Ingla, Jaume Ferrer and Agustí Benedito. Sandro Rosell would on the other hand be reluctant of confirming his presence and has so far only given his approval to the final debate that will be organized by Catalan television channel TV3 on Friday 11 June.

Read more:
Rosell: "Guardiola represents our core values"
Ferrer: "What is working should not be touched"
Ingla: "Barça should be reference of 21st century"

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

Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.

translation: archie valparaiso

In the poll published by El Periódico, you achieved a voting-intention figure of 54.8%. What’s your reaction to that?
It's always nice to see that people trust in you and your programme. But you can't afford to relax in the slightest. We've been working for quite some time on creating a solid, rigorous, credible option for running Barça. And with barely three weeks to go, we're not going to let up now.

What's your strategy going to be from now on?
We've drawn up our route map and we're not going to stray from it, however much the opinion polls may be in our favour. As a great painter, Picasso, once said: inspiration exists but it's best if it catches you when you're working. Or, what amounts to the same thing: dreams do exist, but its best if they catch you when you're wide awake.

The ballot papers feature someone called Alexandre Rosell. Is that the same person as Sandro?
Yes, I was very surprised to see that. I'd asked for them to use the name that everyone has always used for me - my mother, my daughters, my father, my friends - which is Sandro Rosell i Feliu. I've always been called that, but "Alexandre" is what it says on my birth certificate. I was surprised, because when I was vice-chairman "Sandro" was what they used on the club's website and the visiting cards they had made for me. I don't know what’s behind it all, but...

Are you worried about any other complications of any kind?
We've all been denied access to the list of voters and only been given the membership numbers without the members' names. We'd like to think that there won't be any funny business, that the president and the electoral board will stay neutral, but things like this are a cause for some concern.

What did you think about Guardiola, in his first message after winning the league, giving his thanks to Laporta?
Soon he's going to be a former president, and it's fine for Guardiola to have made that reference. I really mean that; there's no hidden message.

With team issues no longer in the way, do you expect the electoral campaign to get tougher?
Not from our side, no. Since we started, everyone except Plaza and Guixà have criticised us, saying all sorts of things about us. We're going to carry on in our own way, explaining our programme without bad-mouthing anybody.

Those who have criticised you most are your former fellow directors. Did you really leave such a bad taste in their mouths?
That's true. Ingla, Godall, Vicens and also, to a slightly extent, Ferrer. I don't know why they're doing it. I'm not going to criticise them.

You changed Laporta's "Cruyff, Catalonia, Unicef" to "Members, Catalonia, Solidarity and Youth System"? Is Cruyff the only difference?
No, I wouldn't say that. We're fully aware that that the members are the club's owners and have noticed that they haven't been treated as such, but rather as customers. That's the situation as far as the business model is concerned. Financially, we'll review the actual position, and work to cover the debt without selling off assets. We won’t be going ahead with the Foster [new Camp Nou stadium] project, because we've got another one. Then there's the youth system. We need to do the job that used to be done fifteen years ago by people like Oriol Tort and Rexach, who signed Messi, with the result that seven of the eleven players who won the league title for us have come up through the ranks. We're concerned to ensure that this is really being done, because we'll see the results in fifteen years' time.

You're questioning the work that's being done with the youth players even though it seems to be one of the cornerstones of Barça's current success?
What I'm saying is that we need to review what's being done because it'll be fifteen years before we see its fruits. If there's so much interest, if they keep going on about the youth system, why has the hall of residence been a skeleton for so many years without any progress being made? The young lads are still sleeping in dormitory huts or rented apartments. The completion of those works was budgeted for, but instead of that they've spent 18 million euros on some land in Viladecans that's a swamp.

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

Read more:
Rosell: "Barça is not only about goals and titles"
"Sandro Rosell" not on support slips
Rosell wants to regulate new members

interview: david torras - joan domènech

The Quotes: Soriano, Perrin, Salvat, Rosell, Ferrer

"A youth player who arrives at the first team has cost us 2 to 3 million euros."

Ferran Soriano


"Sandro Rosell is a balloon that is deflating."

Albert Perrín


"We will pass the cut. We have already around 1.300 signatures."

Santiago Salvat


"The figure of an honorary president doesn't exist in the club statutes. So the members will first have to decide if they want this and then if they want Johan Cruyff."

Sandro Rosell


"Our campaign will cost around 1 million euros."

Jaume Ferrer

read more election quotes here

Salvat: "The member will know everything"

Barcelona presidential candidate Santiago Salvat gave an interview to Catalan online paper El Singular Digital.


More and more people seem to claim the label of "alternative candidate"...
We are the only truly new candidacy. All other projects have already been linked to electoral processes or to the board of directors. They already had their moment, now it's our turn, we have a new team, enthusiasm, with people who are prepared and who bring renewal to the club.

But people like Josep Maria Minguella Josep and Jordi Medina are part of your project. Both have already tried before to become the president of Barça...
They have tried it, they realize that everything has stayed the same and this time they want to offer their experience to a young and new project and therefore, they have set a step back. People do not see me as the candidate of Minguella and he has already begun working for us.

As far as the sports area is concerend, Barça is going through one of the best moments of its history. It seems strange to talk about change...
The sporting successes are not the responsibility of the president or the board, but of the professionals who have made this possible. We are the alternative regarding the institutional representation and have a way of doing things based on transparency. One of our slogans is: "The member will know everything".

But Guardiola was appointed by the board of Laporta, no?
That is a lie. Laporta did not want Guardiola. He refused the option en Marc Ingla then went to see Mourinho and when he said no, they decided to count on Guardiola. This was their last card left and they thought that if the results wouldn't be good, the member would not act, because Pep is a club icon.

However, the titles will be one of the main arguments put on the table by the continuity candidate to convince the member.
If we reach the presidency and Barça wins a Champions League, I do not want people to say that Santiago Salvat has won a Champions League. It will have been the players and the coaches who have done it. We want to give all the facilities to the coaches. I think I will have a good relationship with Guardiola and Xavi Pascual [coach of the basketball team].

There has been talk of a "center" candidacy. That's a vague concept...
The third way, our way, is a way between two extremes. The continuism and Sandro Rosell, who we call "pseudo-continuism".

Then there are those who point at a big pact of all candidates against Rosell...
All candidates against Rosell will be impossible because we won't be part of that. We won't go against anyone, the others are already doing that. Laporta, Rosell Ferrer or Ingla are already talking about a dirty campaign and we will not get involved in that fight. I'm sure there will be pacts and the ones who could most benefit from this are Ingla and Ferrer.

In the case we really end up with those two blocks, your chances of becoming the president would get complicated?
No, quite the opposite. The positions of each one would get more extreme, they would become more radical and it would become clear they want to get in power no matter what. A pact with us would be impossible because we would force them to accept a series of criteria related to transparency that they would not accept because they have a past at the club.

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

Read more:
Salvat officially presents his candidacy
[picture] The kiss of Santiago Salvat
Son Camp Nou architect could lead remodelling

interview: xavier march

[picture] Jaume Ferrer and David Villa

Barcelona assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer [picture, on the left] assisted on Friday the presentation of new Barcelona player David Villa.

[video] Benedito uses Al Pacino to motivate team

Barcelona presidential candidate Agustí Benedito is reportedly using a speech by Al Pacino from the movie "Any Given Sunday" (1999) to motivate his campaign team ahead of the presidential elections on Sunday 13 June.

"Sandro Rosell" not on support slips

The electoral board of FC Barcelona has earlier this week rejected the request by the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Sandro Rosell that the name 'Sandro Rosell' would be mentioned on the support slips club members can sign to give their support to the former sports vice-president. The slips now mention Rosell's official first name 'Alexandre'.

The board refers to article 44.3.[2].c.[iii] of the club statutes that supposedly says the slips cannot mention nicknames but should carry the name of the candidate. The stipulation reads as follows: "Also printed in a clear position on the official slip published by the Club will be the name of the candidate for the Presidency leading the candidacy."

Read more:
The collection of the signatures has started
Rosell: "Guardiola represents our core values"
The electoral proceedings

[2003] Llaurado has deal with Iker Casillas

source: el mundo deportivo, saturday 24 may 2003, page 1

The star signing of Llauradó is Casillas

Iker has a serious deal with the presidential candidate, although he didn't yet sign

The news that was brought out by this paper shook up the Madrid entourage

Guardiola says 'yes' to Bassat

Pep has accepted the offer of the publicist, he will retire as a player and return to Barcelona

check more 2003 election stories

Guixa: "We remain the clear alternative to Laporta"

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Guixà gave an interview to Spanish football site Mercafutbol.

translation: jacob coronado

Despite opposing the Foster project, you are committed to the renewal of the Camp Nou...
Yes, we understand that the Camp Nou is a five-star venue but that it needs a complete restoration. We can gradually upgrade it.

What are your plans for the Miniestadi?
The Miniestadi is a small Camp Nou and we will strengthen the grassroots and the concept of our youth program. We will finish the training centre and put in place a technical staff that will turnit into a High Performance Football Center.

You refererred to La Masia as a model that you would like to export to different countries...
Yes, we understand that the model of our youth academy is very valid and should be followed more closely. The concept of our academy will be exported so that we will not only have players at the training center in Barcelona, but also create a universal program.

Let's continue to talk about the sports structure you are thinking of for Barcelona, because you have explained in your decalogue that you would replace the figure of a sporting director by a staff of three experts who would work in coordination with the first team coach. How would this favour the sporting operations of Barca?
It would benefit the youth teams, Barça Atlètic, as well as the first team. Everyone has to play in the same way, the same style of football, and that means that the little ones at the training center need to know what what will be expected of them when they are older and reach the first team. And on that path, the three sports directors - youth, Atlètic and first team - should all have the same criteria of training, built-up to the game, player attitudes, knowing that they are defending the same shirt.

Do you think Sandro Rosell is the favourite to win this election?
No. I honestly think this is going to change when each candidate presents his project.

If you became president, what would you change about the current management by Barça president Joan Laporta?
First of all, I would introduce a different style. The presidentialism of Joan Laporta has sinned in many ways, and I believe that I have a different way of being and thinking. I am more open, more participatory, more open for dialogue, more democratic and more transparent...

At the beginning of the pre-campaign you defined your candidacy as the "alternative to Laporta". Now that two other candidates, Alexis Plaza and Santi Salvat, have no association with Joan Laporta, have you redefined your motto?
We believe that we remain the clear alternative to both Laporta and the Elefant Blau and that we, in that context, present a different project. We were the first, the rest have joined in later which is a good thing. When your program is copied, this confirms that we have a good project.

What do you think about the political use of Barça by Laporta?
I think that, as a citizen, Joan Laporta has every right to participate in the democratic process and I encourage him to do is. It is something different when you are Barca president though. I think the president of Barça has to think about the institution, and should be open for the diversity that Barcelona represents and in that sense, he has mixed these two figures and, as I understand it, to his personal advantage. I asked him in a letter that he should separate things and that if he wanted to strengthen his political profile he should resign as Barça president because Barça is plural and the members do not want to get involved in politics. That is what the political parties are for.

Another decision of Joan Laporta was to appoint honorary president Johan Cruyff. How did you feel about that appointment?
I'm not going to question the value of Johan Cruyff as a player and coach, but I oppose the use of his image two months before the elections in a controversial manner at a presentation where only guests that were invited could enter the ceremony and no members were allowed to attend, which to me divides the supporters. I think the club's statutes do not include the figure of honorary president but only that of honorary member. This decision, therefore, must be validated by the General Assembly in the interest of Johan and of the club.

Before you told us you are the president of a fan club in Sant Cugat. Do you believe that, during the mandate of Joan Laporta, the fan clubs have been properly treated?
I think the penyes have been neglected. It seems as if they have not been taken into account. We want to strenghten the social area of the club and we have already stated publicly that the spokesman of the council of the fan clubs will be part of the board in the event that the members decide that Jaume Guixà will be the next president.

Joan Laporta has stated that the current Barcelona model is based on Johan Cruyff, Catalunya and Unicef. Do you agree with this statement?
No. I think that Barça is more than a club because of the hundred and a bit years of history, because of the thirty-one years of the youth academy, because of the legendary players from the Barça of the five cups, because of the history the Barça of the six cups will make... All tgether, we strive for a bigger Barça.

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

Read more:
Guixa wants to export youth academy
The Decalogue of Jaume Guixa
Guixa: "You cannot trust the polls"

interview: elena fernández