Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu has welcomed the outcome of the referendum on the future of Camp Nou.
Almost three-quarters of club members voted in favour of the proposed stadium redevelopment during the consultation held on Saturday.
Bartomeu has told Catalunya Radio that it is the long-term vision of club members that has impressed him most of all.
“I’m very happy with this result. The members have understood it is a long-term project, to be seen and enjoyed by our grandchildren,” Mundo Deportivo quotes Bartomeu as saying.
“Now it is an intense task for seven years. I hope that the opening of Camp Nou in 2021 looks like the party of 1957.”
Bartomeu was also asked about reports sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta offered to step down in the wake of the transfer ban given to the club.
“Zubi is a club man and he’s doing a great job,” Bartomeu said in explaining why Zubizaretta’s resignation was rejected.
“On Wednesday afternoon we met after the FIFA sanction. That meeting last four hours.
“It’s true that in that meeting he said he’d go if it helped the club. I appreciate he’s a club man. The solution is to let people work.
“We’re talking with FIFA but for now I can’t explain more.
“After Easter we will be sure to meet with [FIFA President Sepp] Blatter. He didn’t ban us – it was an independent commission of FIFA.
“The strange thing is that the sanction was reported months later.
“And it’s excessive because it doesn’t let us sign anyone for two transfer windows.”
