Joan Laporta officially began the 2026-2031 term as president of FC Barcelona on Tuesday with a speech in which he highlighted the renewed confidence placed in him by the Club's members, the recovery achieved over the last five years, and the ambition to continue growing the institution in sporting, institutional, and financial terms. The completion of the new Spotify Camp Nou, the defence of the member-owned model, and the preservation of Barça's identity were among the main themes of his address.

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Joan Laporta: 'The coming years will be exciting'

Before discussing the key objectives of the new term, Laporta wished to express his emotional connection to the Club. "Barça is all about emotions, and I experience them very intensely. I have cried, laughed, and enjoyed so much with this Club," he said, describing the presidency as "an honour" and "one of the most important challenges" of his life as a Barça supporter.

Renewed confidence

The president thanked the members for their participation in the elections held on 15 March and for the trust they had placed in him to continue leading the Club. "We are here again because that was the majority will of Barça’s members," he stated, highlighting that it had been "an admirable democratic day" that proves "Barça is a club committed to democracy."

Joan Laporta also recalled the most difficult moments of his previous term and emphasized the resilience of the Barça community. "The previous term was not easy. We had to make painful decisions and pass through critical situations, but we never gave up," he said.

In this regard, he stressed that the Club "fought against the attacks of our adversaries, stood its ground, and overcame all kinds of obstacles to proclaim to the world that we had returned." He added: "Even today, some have not yet accepted that Barça is once again a respected club and a beloved institution around the world."

Club consolidation

Looking ahead, the president expressed his conviction that "the coming years will be exciting, with the consolidation of a Barça that is strong both institutionally and financially." At the same time, he warned that "we cannot let our guard down because there are those who never rest," reiterating the Board of Directors' commitment to providing strong leadership and always defending Barça when faced with any sort of challenge. "Barça must be protected at all times, in every area and under all circumstances," he emphasized.

Laporta highlighted that the new Spotify Camp Nou will once again become the heart of the Barça community and that the Club’s sporting project will continue to grow through talent, commitment, and values. He also took the opportunity to praise the professional sections of the Club, describing them as teams that embody and transmit the very essence and values of FC Barcelona..

Gratitude to the outgoing board 

At the start of the new term, the president took the opportunity to thank the Board of Directors led by Rafael Yuste for its work over the past few months. "You have been a great president of Barça, fully worthy of the institution," he said, before extending his thanks to the directors who had worked alongside Yuste.

Laporta also expressed his gratitude to Manana Giorgadze, Head of the Presidential Office, as well as to the Club’s executives and employees, led by Director General, Manel del Río, acknowledging their contribution and dedication to FC Barcelona.

Best club in the world 

Joan Laporta stated that the Club’s great objective is "to leave future generations a Barça that is far better than the one we inherited," and highlighted the Club's greatness from multiple perspectives.

On the sporting front, he recalled that Barça is "the greatest multi-sport club in the world," with 50 European Cups across all its professional sections. He emphasised that "every title carries an emotion, a memory, and a historic moment." He also reaffirmed the Club's sporting philosophy, saying: "We love winning, but at Barça there is something extra: we want to win the right way. It's not just about winning, it's about how we do it.”

In this regard, he once again identified La Masia as one of the fundamental pillars of the project. "La Masia is one of Barça’s greatest assets and the backbone of the Club’s values," he said, noting that the talent produced by the youth system, together with the work of Hansi Flick, Deco, Bojan, and José Ramón Alexanko, has helped restore the path to success. He also celebrated the fact that the Club has "reconnected the team with its supporters" and asserted that Barça is "once again the benchmark in Spanish Football."

Another key pillar of the new term will be the completion of the new Spotify Camp Nou. Laporta described it as "the home of all Barça supporters and the collective dream of the Barça family," stating that it will become "the defining project of this century" and one of the Club's main sources of revenue. In this context, he announced that an Extraordinary Assembly will be convened in the coming days to provide a detailed update on the progress of the project.

Strength of the institution 

The president also highlighted the Club’s financial strength, which now generates more than €1.1 billion in annual revenue and continues to break commercial and merchandising records. "Barça is an institution that answers only to its members," he reminded the audience, stressing that this ownership model requires the Club "to be imaginative, innovative, courageous, and always one step ahead." He added: "Our ownership model is inseparable from our values. It is what makes us unique and what we are proud of." Laporta also highlighted that Barça's strength is reflected in two figures: its 150,000 members and its more than 480 million supporters worldwide.

In the field of innovation, Laporta announced the launch of Barça Play, a new platform integrated directly into the Club's website and official app. The service will allow fans to watch live matches involving Club teams that are not tied to broadcasting agreements with other operators, as well as follow youth football free of charge for members. Users will also gain access to other exclusive Barça-related content. The initiative aims to provide better services to members while creating new opportunities for growth.

Members at the centre

The president also placed Club members at the heart of this new term. "The institutional dimension will take on greater importance than ever, placing members at the centre of Barça's activities,” he stated, before reaffirming the Club as "a Catalan institution open to the world," committed to "democracy, freedom, Catalonia, our language, and our culture." He added: "That is precisely why we are more than a club."

In this regard, Laporta announced a reform of the Club’s statutes aimed at "safeguarding the member-owned model" and strengthening member participation, along with new initiatives to expand the Club's social commitment. Among these measures, he revealed that both the men's and women' first teams will wear the Barça Foundation logo on the back of their shirts. He also announced the creation of a new Accessibility and Inclusion Department and a new Governance Directorate.

"And now, we continue!"

In closing his speech, Laporta once again thanked the Barça community for its support. “Everything we have achieved over the last five years has been possible thanks to the institutional stability provided by FC Barcelona’s members," he stated.

Drawing on a phrase attributed to Joan Gamper, he summed up the spirit of the new term: "In honour of our founder, today we say to you: ‘And now, we continue!’ We continue to remain the greatest multi-sport club in the world. We continue to strengthen the essence of More Than a Club."

 

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