Barcelona traveled this morning to the Balearic Islands to focus a few hours before the start of their first La Liga match of the season. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with Jose Luis Munuera Montero blowing the whistle to begin Barça’s season against Mallorca. Along with the squad, which includes Joan García and Rashford and had just hours earlier been registered in the domestic competition, Barcelona president Joan Laporta appeared before the media gathered at the hotel where the team is quartered.
On the registrations that have dominated headlines in recent days, Laporta praised Deco, the club’s sporting director. “Deco was working very well on this whole issue, and I already told the two fan clubs because Deco had told me he was on the right track. The truth is we have to congratulate Deco for the good work he’s doing with this registration matter, which isn’t easy. All clubs are in a situation where they will have to find rigid solutions to make it all a bit more practical, but we’re happy—especially because Deco is doing good work. We’ve understood the league, and we’ve followed the requirements that were set,” he said.
He also commented on the obstacles the league poses to registering players, noting that three players still remain to be registered. “These processes always come with some anticipation because there are a series of rules to fulfill, but the rules are very complicated. This year we had started out from 1-to-1 as we needed to renew players; we had already exceeded that, so we had counted on it and knew we’d have to work to reduce this excess. We’ve worked on it and found solutions to register the players we’ve signed anew, who today could count on them if they want, and then continue working, because there are still three players and they’re also registered,” he said.
Regarding the team’s aspirations for the upcoming season, Laporta expressed optimism and congratulated Flick for his work. “We are very happy with the squad that has been assembled, and we’re always grateful to Flick for the good work he’s doing. We’re all convinced we have a team that will be contenders in the competitions we participate in, contenders to win them, but only one wins and it won’t be easy. We’ll have to work hard and fight hard. So what do we expect from this season? For the successes to come, for Barcelona to remain in this sweet moment of joy. I could see yesterday in the fan clubs here in the Balearics that the celebration was massive, and I saw a lot of emotion and hope for this season. I said yesterday that this season we will live moments that will not be forgotten,” he concluded.
Context and value-added notes:
– The piece highlights ongoing registration challenges in a window where clubs must balance new signings with strict league regulations. Deco’s role as sporting director is underscored as a key factor in navigating these administrative hurdles.
– The remarks from Laporta emphasize a mix of pragmatic compliance with league rules and optimism about on-pitch prospects under Flick.
– Watch for squad selection in the first match: which of the recently registered players are included, how the remaining three registrations affect matchday options, and how the team lines up against Mallorca.
Summary:
Barcelona arrives in optimistic mood for the season opener, praising Deco’s effective handling of registration hurdles and backing Flick’s project. While some registration steps remain, the club is navigating the process with a confident stance and aims to translate the current squad’s quality into early-season success.
Positive takeaway:
The club’s leadership projects a bright season ahead, backed by a cohesive plan from the sporting director and a strong faith in the squad’s potential to compete for trophies, while acknowledging the work still required to finalize all registrations.