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Xavier Vilajoana Enters Barcelona Presidential Race, Challenging Joan Laporta

He is running on a member-first platform built around La Masia investment with promises of accountability on contracts.

Overview

  • Vilajoana officially announced his candidacy on November 27, joining a field that includes incumbent Joan Laporta and fellow challenger Víctor Font.
  • He attacked Laporta’s tenure as “demential,” accusing the club of improvisation, distancing itself from members, and avoiding in-person assemblies.
  • He questioned the circumstances of Lionel Messi’s exit, asserting it was not driven by finances and attributing responsibility to the president.
  • He criticized the Spotify Camp Nou project and the choice of contractor Limak, citing a chaotic return and stressing the club’s duty to ensure subcontractor legal compliance, while also questioning a sponsorship linked to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • He pledged increased investment in La Masia and proposed exporting the academy model globally, noting this is his second bid after falling about 400 member signatures short in 2021.