Laporta accuses managerial committee

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has accused the club’s ‘managing committee’ of ‘exceeding their authority’ by signing Arda Turan.

The committee is running club affairs on a temporary basis as the Catalan giants prepare to hold their presidential elections next week. Earlier this week, it sanctioned the transfer of the midfielder from Atletico Madrid.

However, Laporta is unhappy with the committee’s decision to do this, arguing that they do not have the necessary authority to bring a player in.

The agreement for Barca’s signing of Turan strangely includes a clause that would allow the player to be returned to Atleti before 20 July, should the new President desire it. This is something that Laporta has refused to rule out happening should he be elected Camp Nou chief.

“They have exceeded their authority with the signing, as I expected,” Laporta told reporters. “I would leave the decision (on whether to keep Turan) to Abidal, who is our sporting director, and I would speak to Luis Enrique.”

Laporta also reiterated that one player he would want to bring to the club is Frenchman Paul Pogba.

“If we win we would like to bring in Pogba. I have a very good relationship with Mino Raiola, his agent and the key to the signing. As I have discussed with Abidal, he would be perfect to reinforce Barcelona’s central midfield.”

The 53-year-old added that it was right that Blaugrana Coach Luis Enrique continues in his role next season, but again criticised the club for extending his contract before the presidential elections take place.

“It’s right that he continues, but his contract extension, knowing that there were elections, was unnecessary.”

Tags Laporta Luis Enrique
La Liga - Club News