BARCELONA – Josep Maria Minguella, sports vice-president in the pre-candidacy of Emili Rousaud in the elections for the presidency of Barcelona, announced this Wednesday that if his project is the most voted by members the club in the elections of 24 January will be able to work on the signing of Erling Haaland, will be “far above” Kylian Mbappe, must ensure the permanence of Lionel Messi and regenerate a club that, he said, is going through a critical moment.
The veteran former player player proclaimed the need to hire a sports director “with extensive experience”, questioning the ability of Xavi or Jordi Cruyff, was not so strong in the return of Neymar and warned of the desirability of postponing elections for the current state of health due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If Rousaud wins the election and becomes president “I will take responsibility for the sports issue, which is the key to the resurgence of the club” announced Minguella, who endorsed Rousaud’s project warning that in the current situation in the Barcelona can only carry it out “a good manager, who knows how to interpret a balance sheet well, who doesn’t have to go by bus selling stories, but who knows what it’s like to raise a company from scratch, to reach a turnover of more than 500 million euros, having profits, staying in Catalonia when others have gone to tax havens … These values are what I want to preside over Barça. That’s why I want to help Rousaud, because I want to help Barça “.
“The issue of Messi is very simple. Leo is delighted in Barcelona,” said the leader, who warned that the Argentine “like any elite athlete always wants to win. He has gone from winning Champions, Leagues … to not to win anything and he continues with the mentality of continuing to win.What we will offer him, in football, will put him at the limit and he will be happy to continue here.This is a problem of being credible that Barça will have a great team again and if he doesn’t see it that way because he will leave because he will have first-class offers, “he said.
Minguella denounced that in recent years “there has not been a sporting director with the necessary level for the club. Players of all conditions have been signed without a definite criterion … Every time a plane arrives from Brazil a player lands from there. some don’t even show up, others disappear … This needs to be completely cleaned up and this can only be done by a sports director who is a true professional “.
Therefore, he announced that in his project “we will have what it takes to look for players to renew with little money to this staff and return the enthusiasm. I have not seen anyone talk about a viable and realistic project … This candidacy if you have a world – class sports project that will soon turn around the current club’s sporting situation. “
In this regard he confirmed having three proposals on the table. “We have three top-level people with a contract in force that can’t be said now because you have to be very discreet and not filter anything,” he said, detracting from the arrival of Xavi: “I think he’s fantastic, he’s been a great player. but from my point of view I prefer someone with a lot of experience, I have nothing against him, who is in Qatar, or against Jordi Cruyff, who was in China … but this job at a club like Barça needs a lot of experience because you can’t put 700 million euros in the hands of someone who has been a very good footballer on the field but has not yet started working on this facet. If it’s about putting a big name then I think it’s very good … and we’ll see in a few years. “
On his crack names, Minguella did not go to the grain and assured to have controlled to Haaland, besides referring that it does not forget Mbappé. “Haaland? I’ve talked to Raiola and I have all the details of what can happen if Rousaud is president. I know the conditions, although I already told Raiola that we wouldn’t use it as an electoral weapon. I just told him that l ‘the day after the election I would tell him personally,’ he announced.
It was also clear with Mbappé. “His name was on the table after Neymar’s departure, when he was still in Monaco, in the midst of the dissolution of his staff, and it was very feasible. He was at the table of Barça’s managers and it was decided to sign Dembélé. The geniuses of that time understood that it was better for the team. It was a pity, and I already denounced it, “he said, assuming that in the future he would look for him again.
“If we win the election, Mbappé will be on the table again, we will be very much on top of him and in fact we have already made moves, although it is a complicated issue because there are Arabs in the middle and also Real Madrid. “But let no one doubt that we will be here.”
Less forceful was when referring to Neymar: “With Neymar we have to wait and see what happens. When there is a sporting director he will be seen. Now he cannot be signed, if he is free in a year he will have to be the sporting director whatever he decides, if he says yes, well, if he says no, then another one will be sought “.
However, Minguella emphasized that Barça “must know how to go for players in this category when they are not so well known. When they are signed by Salzburg or Monaco, not when they are already at the top. This is the ideal task. of a sports director and that’s why he has to be a very expert person. To sign a player for 120 million euros I don’t need a sports director, I’m worth a financier who puts the money in. “
And he remembered a closer case. “Lautaro played for Racing d’Avellaneda who won the championship and was the top scorer … And Barça noticed him when he was already at Inter Milan and he was worth 100 million. That’s why expert people are needed. , to find this class of players at the given time “.
Faced with the impending winter market, Rousaud’s confidant was surprised to say he is “making arrangements with funds to agree on long-term financing. If we win the election I have already spoken to potential sports directors of two names , that they are not expensive and improve the current team. The priority is a defender and a striker and at the end of January we could have them, at no immediate cost to the club. We have everything ready. “
“I would be happy to incorporate Rexach into the structure of Barça. Here everyone is talking about cruyffism … but Rexach, in addition to being a character always linked to Barça who was fired four days ago, has always been linked to the club since childhood. and he was the one who said yes to Messi. When there were so many doubts in the club, what played a role with his signature was Rexach “he expressed, also remembering that Rexach” knows a lot of football and he has been wasted by the club. Guardiola, Tito … Many are his products because, for example, he was the one who spoke to Guardyola’s Cruyff when Milla left for Madrid “.
He similarly announced that he was in talks to recover Hristo Stoichkov. “He has a television contract in the United States and until January 26 I will not be able to confirm but he has an offer on the table to join the club when Emili is president as a key figure in the club’s relations with organizations such as UEFA , FIFA, FEF, Laliga … “.
Finally, Minguella was surprised to find that the coronavirus pandemic would advise against holding the scheduled elections. “Perhaps what should be done is to postpone them. It is more important to win the pandemic than to win an election. If they had common sense they would postpone … Perhaps the best thing would be to wait, for the pre-candidates to accept it, all , and to make the elections later. As we are, what is more important? the life of the people or the elections of the Barça? a meeting could be held for six months and then it will be seen, “he agreed.