Xavi Vilajoana has announced he’s joined the race to be Barcelona’s next president and has spoken about some of the changes he would like to make at the club.
The presidential candidate is a former player who has worked at the club previously as a director responsible for La Masia, and he says the famous academy is vital to the club’s future success.
Amid talk that Joan Laporta still dreams of signing Erling Haaland for Barcelona, Vilajoana believes that the club’s next superstar should come from the academy.
Here’s what he’s pledging if he’s elected president:
“If I am president, I will freeze season ticket prices until Camp Nou is finished. The members must come first. We can dedicate 40 million euros to this within a one billion euro budget. I have a plan to increase sponsorship revenue by 30%,” he said on Thursday.
“We will promote La Masia, our greatest asset, whose budget Laporta has decided to cut by 37%. Our Haaland isn’t at City, he’s at La Masia . It pains me to see the state of the other sections. I was captain of one of them (futsal) and I know how important they are; they are part of our identity. The Palau Blaugrana and the Palauet must be completed now. Women’s sports will be represented in all sections if I win.”
Vilajoana also spoke about why he wants to take charge of the club and was fairly critical of Laporta.
“My mother asks me why I’m running. It’s a natural step. My father was a board member, I was a futsal player and then a board member under the last three presidents (Laporta, Rosell, and Bartomeu) with responsibilities in futsal, youth development, La Masia, and the women’s team. That’s 21 years linked to the club, which leaves a huge mark on you,” he added.
“We have a man at the helm who is sailing aimlessly, without strategy or seriousness. I don’t see any of the values that have made us great.”
Vilajoana joins Laporta and Victor Font in the presidential race, although it’s still not yet known when the elections will take place.
