Joan Laporta – Barca’s comeback king trying to turn back time

Ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, Laporta is a narrow favourite ahead of Victor Font and Toni Freixa.

Laporta, who is Barcelona’s most successful ever president, is seeking a return to the position he held between 2003-10. Seems like most club members have forgotten all the controversies that surrounded his exit 11 years ago.

Crippled with debt, Laporta has pledged to turn around Barca’s position by raising €200 million from commercial rights sale and increase in sponsors.

“We will implement a more consistent sponsorship pyramid…(with) much greater consistency in what the club offers them in return,” he says.

This time Laporta is without his “Catalan A-Team”: Rosell, Soriano, Ingla and his football hero and mentor, Cruyff, passed away five years ago. Without them, will he still have the magic touch?