Rosell: Tito may return

Sandro Rosell has confirmed the intention to reincorporate Tito Vilanova at Barcelona in some capacity, once he recovers from his illness.

Vilanova had to stand down as Coach in the summer after suffering a second relapse of throat cancer, for which he is currently undergoing treatment.

Tata Martino has arrived in his place, but Barcelona’s President says that Vilanova will not stay completely out of the picture in the future.

“His illness has been the worst thing that has happened since I arrived at the club,” considered Rosell on El Larguero this week.

“He is lively and strong. If he recovers, he will certainly return to Barca. I do not know in what capacity, but he will return.

“Martino? We thought of Tata from the moment that Tito first went to New York [for treatment midway through the 2012-13 season].

“I met Martino 12 years ago, with Libertad, which was like how Atletico are now, and our corporation sponsored him.

“When the thing with Tito happened, I called to put him on the list of potential Coach for [Andoni] Zubizarreta to consider. After four or five days, it was decided by him.”

Rosell publicly has an uneasy relationship with former player and Coach Johan Cruyff. The latest issue between the pair has been Barca’s apparent delay in paying money owed to the Dutchman’s foundation.

“The rift comes from when I was Vice-President. He wanted us to go for the triple A of Aimar, Albelda and Ayala and I brought in Ronaldinho, Edmilson, Sylvinho and Marquez…

“I spoke to him so that he could see us as united, for institutional reasons, but I could not convince him.

“With regards the foundation, we have already paid. I just felt that the money should be for something final and I wanted to know what, but to avoid lawsuits and as a five-year deal was signed, we paid.

“With Cruyff it is better not to argue, but if I will, it will be to defend the club.”

Former Barcelona President Joan Laporta is one of those to suggest that Rosell did not do enough to convince Pep Guardiola to stay at the club in 2012.

“I was a representative of Nike and he was a football player when we first met. I was 29 and he was 23. We signed a contract and from then our relationship has been continuous.

“And in that regard there have been days where we have agreed and days that we have not, and that creates some tension.

“What happens is that people want to disrupt things. Someone wanted to poison things. But our relationship is normal. It is neither love nor hate.”

Tags Cruyff Martino Rosell Vilanova
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