07.06.2009 16:20
“We will reinforce the team so that they are still hungry for titles”
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Before taking part in a lunch to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Peña Azulgrana de Igualada, Laporta has said that he wants to being in new players to ensure the squad still has a hunger to win titles.
The Barça president was speaking to the press before enjoying a lunch in honour of the first
century of existence of the Peña Azulgrana de Igualada. Speaking to Barça TV and the club website,
Joan Laporta said “it is always said that after winning a lot a team can fall into a phase of
decadence” and that to avoid this, the club “will reinforce the team so that they are
still hungry for titles”.
Club to maintain “good criteria and sensibility” in signing
The pressmen in presence quizzed him on the matter of how the club was going to deal with the
inflating transfer fees of modern times. “I hope we don’t end up paying excessive
prices for players. In the club’s point of view, we need to maintain good criteria and
sensibility in this sense”.
Positive ideas
Joan Laporta also added that “Barça have a footballing model that combines products of
our youth system with top class players … This season we have displayed an attack-based
ideology and offered spectacle, which has all shown that the first team’s football
works.”
Valdés, “best keeper in the world”
When asked about a possible extension to Víctor Valdés’ contract, he made it
clear that his intention is for the keeper to stay “because he is the best keeper in the
world. We understand that he wants to stay, and now we have to end our negotiations with his
agent.” As for Samuel Eto'o, Joan Laporta said “there is no need to look for a player
who shares Eto'o’s profile if we already have him”.
Special celebration
As well as president Joan Laporta, other dignitaries attending the 50th anniversary of the Peña
Azulgrana de Igualada were vice president Alfons Godall, and directors Jacint Borràs and Xavier
Sala i Martín. This special occasion was also attended by the president of the Peña Azulgrana de
Igualada, Ramon León, and the first deputy to the mayor of the town, Jordi Riba. Some 160 guests
enjoyed the meal, all of which involved a very strong sense of Barça fellowship.