This week FC Barcelona president ​​Joan Laporta hosted the 126th president of the Catalan government Jordi Pujol y Soley as he visited the institution. Club vice-president for the Institutional Area Elena Fort was also present.

Presidente Pujol, who led the Catalan government from 1980 to 2003, and an FC Barcelona member since 14 September 1948, currently has membership card number 193. In 1999 he received a gold badge from the Club for completing 50 years as an FC Barcelona member. On 20 November 2021, president Laporta invited president Pujol to the Spotify Camp Nou presidential box for the LaLiga game against Espanyol, and two years later the Barça president gave Pujol the gold and diamond badge for completing 75 years as a member.

Commemorative jersey

At the meeting this week, president Laporta give president Pujol a Barça first team jersey with the number 95 on the back in reference to his most recent birthday on 9 June. Both presidents discussed how the Club is in a good place at the moment, the breakout of the young talents that have come through the Club system, and coach Flick. President Pujol also wanted to know about the other professional teams at the Club, particularly the handball team, a sport he has always followed closely.

Childhood memories

Jordi Pujol also reflected on the first time he went to the Les Corts ground on 14 June 1936, having recently turned six years old, a month before the Spanish Civil War began. He went with his father that day to watch the return leg of the Republic Cup semifinal against Osasuna (that the blaugranes won 7-1) and was able to experience what being an FC Barcelona fan means for the first time.

Presidente Pujol has always defended the unique nature of FC Barcelona as an institution with close ties to Catalan identity under the slogan "mes que un club" (more than a club). While president of the Catalan government, he hosted the FC Barcelona squad sixteen times after winning a trophy – those now legendary gatherings at the Plaza Sant Jaume where the trophy was presented from the balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat.

 

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