Barcelona, Spain – As FC Barcelona prepares for its presidential election on March 15th, candidate Víctor Font has laid out his vision for the club’s future, expressing confidence in his ability to win and outlining a plan that centers around supporting current manager Hansi Flick although also promising significant financial growth. Font’s campaign is directly challenging incumbent Joan Laporta, and the stakes are high for the direction of one of the world’s most iconic football clubs.
Font, leading the ‘Nosaltres’ campaign, has already been critical of Laporta’s leadership in recent years. He’s now focusing on presenting a compelling alternative, emphasizing stability and a clear sporting project that he believes will resonate with both the players and the fanbase. A key component of his platform is his commitment to Flick, despite recent public support for Laporta from the German coach and star striker Robert Lewandowski.
Flick’s Position and Player Support
The current situation, with Flick and Lewandowski publicly backing Laporta, doesn’t appear to faze Font. “It doesn’t bother me. They are free to do so,” Font stated in an interview with Mundo Deportivo. “Laporta has been the president who brought them here. They know him and not me. They will secure to know me starting on March 16th, and when we establish the relationship that should exist between a president and his players, it will be very solid. They will see that we come to help them, to provide more tools to win, to register players, to strengthen La Masia, and to complement the team when necessary.”
Font indicated that one of his first actions upon potentially winning the election would be to speak with Dani Olmo, a player he admires. “With Dani, we’ve greeted each other a few times. He’s a magnificent player, one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, and these types of players, who are from the club’s academy and carry the club deeply within them, add an extra dimension. It’s great to have this backbone here, and in Dani’s case, having left the club to prove his talent in other countries, it would be a privilege to have him here. He will bring us many joys in the coming years.”
Sporting Director Plans and Internal Talent
Font has previously stated his intention to retain Hansi Flick if elected, but plans to replace Deco as sporting director. He’s assembling a team around Carles Planchart, Albert Puig, and Francesc Cos, but acknowledges the necessitate for a CEO of sport. He emphasized the importance of leveraging existing talent within the club, citing José Ramón Alexanco in the youth setup and Alejandro Echevarría in sports medicine and performance.
Regarding potential changes to the current staff, Font clarified his position. While acknowledging a likely departure for Echevarría due to his ties to Laporta, he expressed a desire to retain Alexanco. “We desire to count on all the talent within the club,” he said. “We’ve always been critical of the lack of talent in the club’s executive positions, referring to the first line, which directly depends on the president and are positions of trust. There are hundreds of people within the club to whom I want to thank, not only for their work but also for their commitment. There is brilliant people who live for and by Barça, and thanks to whom Barça is where it is today. I can also send a message of optimism, in the sense that from March 16th they will feel more supported and accompanied to continue fulfilling the dream of working for the best club in the world.”
Transfer Strategy and Financial Goals
Despite the potential for change, Font believes the current Barcelona squad is “very good,” praising the blend of homegrown talent and recent acquisitions. He doesn’t foresee urgent needs in the transfer market but acknowledges the need to continually assess and reinforce the squad. “Urgencies are not there, but we are Barça and we must always work to secure those positions that the sporting director and coach want to reinforce,” he explained.
A central pillar of Font’s campaign is a plan to increase Barcelona’s revenue to 1.65 billion euros by 2031. He believes this can be achieved by prioritizing previously neglected areas of the business, particularly the digital and audiovisual sectors. He criticized the current administration’s handling of these areas, pointing to a lack of revenue despite selling a 50% stake in the club’s audiovisual production. He also highlighted potential growth in the BLM (Barcelona Licensing & Merchandising) and hospitality sectors, prioritizing the club’s members over tourists.
Font was particularly critical of past business dealings, citing associations with companies of questionable reputation. “We have associated ourselves with strange companies of dubious reputation. Vestigia, which is a trust in Cyprus where nobody knows who is behind it, Libero, which stopped paying and Aramark entered, which had the catering concession and was theoretically going to diversify into audiovisual issues, but I haven’t seen it do anything.”
What’s Next for Barcelona
The Barcelona presidential election is scheduled for March 15th. The outcome will have a significant impact on the club’s sporting and financial future. Font’s vision centers on stability, leveraging internal talent, and maximizing revenue streams. The coming days will be crucial as both Font and Laporta produce their final appeals to the club’s members. Following the election, the newly elected president will immediately begin shaping the club’s direction, with potential implications for player contracts, transfer strategies, and the overall management structure.
Fans can follow official updates on the election results and subsequent club announcements through the official FC Barcelona website: https://www.fcbarcelona.com/
