Joan Laporta Becomes The New President Of Barcelona, A Series Of Heavy Tasks Awaits

Joan Laporta (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Joan Laporta was elected president of Barcelona for the second time after winning the club election on Monday morning WIB with more than 54 percent of the vote, the BBC reported.

Laporta's main promise in this election is to keep Lionel Messi at Camp Nou.

The 58-year-old man is the figure who appointed Pep Guardiola as a coach in the previous period between 2003-2010. Laporta fills the position left by Josep Maria Bartomeu after resigning in October.

Victor Font is second with 30 percent of the votes, with Toni Freixa in third.

Barcelona said 55,611 of its 109,531 eligible members had voted in the election, which was postponed from January due to COVID-19 restrictions in Catalonia.

In the first period, Laporta recruited star players such as Ronaldinho and former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o. Barcelona won two Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles, and one Copa del Rey during his first presidency.

Messi also became the world's best player during that period and was among several current Barca players to vote in the election.

"Now let's go to Paris and see if we can make a 'remontada' (comeback) again!" said Laporta while celebrating his victory.

"Seeing Leo (Messi) vote, the best player in the world, vote with his son, for me, this shows what we have said so far, that Leo loves Barca, that we are all a big family. Hopefully, that helps him to stay as we all want."

Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Thursday, March 11, Western Indonesian Time in the second leg of the Champions League last 16, with a 4-1 deficit from the first match.

Laporta's long-term task is to revive the club in crisis, with debt exacerbated by the pandemic and Messi considering leaving at the end of the season when his contract with Barcelona expires.