Joan Laporta and Victor Font clash in fiery last debate before Barcelona President is elected

Victor Font and Joan Laporta engaged in a heated debate on Thursday night, their final opportunity to sway members ahead of Sunday's Barcelona presidential elections. Club members will cast their votes to elect the president for the next five-year term.

Laporta, seeking a fourth term, emphasized continuity, asserting that his leadership is crucial for securing Hansi Flick's managerial role. Conversely, Font, his primary rival from 2021, centered his campaign on concerns about Barcelona's fragile financial state and its potential threat to the club's long-term sustainability.

A technocrat vs. a Barcelona catered to tourists

Laporta immediately went on the offensive, attempting to portray Font as lacking practical experience for the presidential role.

Laporta accused Font of "denying the obvious and telling lies," characterizing him as "a technocrat who works behind a computer" and aiming to "destroy everything we’ve built." A key point of contention against Laporta's recent management has been the considerable delays in the Camp Nou renovation project.

Regarding the Camp Nou, Laporta stated, "The plan is to have the roof by 2028. These projects aren’t an exact science; there are unforeseen circumstances." He added that "80% of the capacity will be for season ticket holders, and there will be 5,000 more on the waiting list. Non-season ticket holders will get a 50% discount on tickets."

Font, meanwhile, criticized Laporta for increasing prices for match-attending fans and members.

Font urged, "On Sunday, we have to choose between a model of confrontation and a president who hands out membership cards, caters to tourists, and criminalizes the supporters’ section; a Barca that limits us or an unstoppable one."

He further argued, "The current economic model depends on tourism. A member who wants to go to a match has to spend a fortune."

‘We can’t have fascists at Barcelona’ – Font

The roles of Deco and Alejandro Echevarria emerged as another significant point of disagreement. Laporta praised his sporting director, Deco, for assembling a successful team and defended his performance.

Laporta retorted, "Victor Font bases his campaign on lies. He wants to replace Deco with three people. Deco’s departure jeopardizes Hansi Flick’s job security. This shows a complete lack of understanding of how things work." He asserted that "Deco is better than Mateu Alemany [his predecessor]. Alemany knows about as much about football as me. He has built the squad, revitalized a whole generation of young players. There’s a structure in place that works."

Font, however, attacked the involvement of Laporta’s brother-in-law, Alejandro Echevarria, who had previously resigned from the Barcelona board after revelations he was a patron of the Francisco Franco Foundation. Echevarria reportedly returned as an unofficial advisor and 'fixer' upon Laporta's 2021 return to power.

Font declared, "Deco is a partner of Alejandro Echevarria, which is his main qualification for being Barca’s sporting director. He replaced Johan Cruyff’s son, who left undervalued, and Mateu Alemany. What he has, he inherited." He emphatically added, "We can’t have fascists at Barcelona," in reference to Echevarria.

Erling Haaland Discussions

Font also claimed to be negotiating a first right of refusal for Erling Haaland.

He stated, "We had to give Inigo Martinez away, and we’re really missing him this year. We’re negotiating a purchase option for Erling Haaland for when he wants to leave Manchester City."

Laporta swiftly countered, "The Haaland thing is a complete lie, which has already been debunked. It’s backfired on him. You have no sense of shame," alluding to a message from Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta.

The Lionel Messi question

A significant criticism of Laporta's current term revolves around Lionel Messi's departure and its handling. Laporta's previous campaign included promises of Messi's continuity, while Font has expressed his intent to try and bring the player back.

Font contended, "To say that Messi is the past is to belittle the best player in history. Messi is the present and also the future. We’ll offer him the honorary presidency. Flick, along with the sporting director, will decide how his career should end."

Laporta's relationship with Messi and his family reportedly soured following the star's exit, though Laporta has denied Xavi Hernandez’s claim that he sabotaged a deal for Messi's return in 2023.

Laporta stated, "Messi deserves a statue; he’s been the best player in history. However, Barca fans want to focus on the present. We’re not going to use him like others have."

Barcelona is set to play Sevilla on Sunday, the same day members will cast their votes. While Laporta remains the strong favorite, Font's performance in the debate was generally seen as effective, particularly given Laporta's renowned oratorical skills.