Joan Laporta breaks his silence. The new president of Barcelona has announced a press conference for Friday 11:30 am. He is expected to touch on a range of topics including the future of Ronald Koeman, the settlement of the Super League debacle and the future of Lionel Messi. It will be Laporta’s first press conference since speaking to the press after his appointment in March.
Laporta spoke with Koeman on Tuesday evening about his future. In the presence of Vice President Rafa Yuste, technical director Mateu Alemany and agent Rob Jansen, a conversation lasting about half an hour was held in the Camp Nou. According to El Confidencial Laporta is not in favor of keeping Koeman on; he would like to look for other candidates in the coming weeks. However, if it is up to directors Ramon Alexanko, Alemany and Ramon Planes, Koeman will remain for Barcelona.
It is not expected that Laporta will announce a decision about Koeman at the press conference. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo however, the chairman already has a dream successor in mind. He would like to see Pep Guardiola return to Barcelona. In his first period as chairman, he already appointed Guardiola as trainer of the U21 team and from 2008 the trainer started leading the first team. Due to the great successes achieved under his leadership, including the sextet at prices. in 2009, Laporta left through the front door in 2010.
At the moment, however, Guardiola’s return is tricky. The Spaniard extended his contract with Manchester City in November last year until mid-2023. Laporta, however, thinks Guardiola could be open to a return if he wins the Champions League on Saturday at the expense of Chelsea. The trainer would then leave England at his peak and can take Lionel Messi under his wing in his presumably last season at Barcelona. Should it fail this summer, Laporta cherishes the hope that Guardiola could return in 2022.
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