FC Barcelona held its ordinary Senate meeting this Tuesday 9 June, being the club’s statutory collegiate and honorary advisory body, made up of its 1,000 longest-serving members. The event, attended by 144 senators, took place in the Auditori 1899 and was chaired by President Rafael Yuste. The members of the Board of Directors were also in attendance.

In his report, Yuste began by thanking the members for the institutional stability they have given the Board of Directors, enabling it to overcome the difficulties of recent years. He said this support had been instrumental in creating the current atmosphere of optimism among the Barça family. Yuste also highlighted that the election day held on 15 March had been an exercise in democracy in its purest form, describing it as a model election befitting the stature of FC Barcelona.

A historic season

The men’s first football team’s successful defence of the LaLiga title, together with the women’s team winning all four major trophies (the Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup) led Yuste to describe the football season as historic. He praised the work of Deco and Hansi Flick, whose contract has been renewed until 2028, and stated that new signings that will excite Barça supporters will be announced in the coming weeks. Regarding the women’s team, he stressed that it will continue to be one of the club’s cornerstones and that every effort will be made to ensure it remains the best team in the world.

Reviewing the sporting season, Yuste highlighted the contribution of La Masia, which together with high-quality additions such as the recent signing of Anthony Gordon, will help consolidate a winning team for the future.

As for the professional sports sections, the president noted that the handball team could win its 13th European Cup this weekend, which would be the 50th European title won by FC Barcelona’s professional teams as a whole, an achievement unmatched by any other sports club in the world.

He also pointed out that the futsal, roller hockey and basketball teams are currently in the decisive stage of their seasons, competing in the league title play-offs. With regard to the basketball section, which will celebrate its centenary in August, Yuste announced that a major restructuring of both the technical area and the playing squad will be unveiled in the coming weeks in order to return the team to the top level of European basketball.

On the right track

On the financial front, Yuste explained that, having saved and stabilised the club, the Board of Directors is now focused on strengthening it. Partnerships with Spotify and Nike, merchandising managed by BLM, and the increasing revenues that will be generated by Spotify Camp Nou are the club’s main economic pillars. He also stated that FC Barcelona is well on track to comply with LaLiga’s 1:1 financial fair play rule.

He also described as unacceptable the claim by the president of Real Madrid that seven league titles had been “stolen” from his club. Follow what he describes as an attempt to defame Barça, he confirmed that the legal department is working on the appropriate legal action.

Yuste also welcomed the return to the Spotify Camp Nou, stressing that the stadium, with a capacity of 105,000 spectators, will be the keystone of the club’s economic recovery. He likewise highlighted the work of the FC Barcelona Foundation, whose charitable activities represent another pillar of the Més que un Club philosophy.

The president concluded his speech by expressing his pride at having helped consolidate a successful sporting project while simultaneously building a new stadium without jeopardising the member-owned model and without placing any financial burden on its members.

At the end of the session, the senators were invited to take a guided tour of the new-look Spotify Camp Nou.

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