Matías Prats backs Laporta's Barcelona reign: 'I'd vote for him with my eyes closed'
Renowned journalist Matías Prats offers strong support for Joan Laporta's controversial Barcelona presidency, crediting him with saving the club from financial ruin.
Renowned Spanish journalist Matías Prats has come out swinging in defense of Barcelona president Joan Laporta, claiming the controversial figure was the only person capable of rescuing the Catalan giants from their financial abyss.
”The only one willing to get his hands dirty”
Speaking on Radio MARCA’s Marcador program, Prats didn’t mince his words about where his loyalties would lie if he had a vote in the Barcelona boardroom. The respected broadcaster was crystal clear, stating he’d back Laporta “with his eyes closed” if given the chance.
Prats painted Laporta as the club’s financial saviour during their darkest hour, describing him as “the only person willing to get his hands dirty to save Barcelona” when the club was teetering on the edge of financial oblivion.
Acknowledging the controversies
What makes Prats’ defense particularly interesting is his honesty about Laporta’s controversial methods. He openly acknowledges the president’s tendency to:
- Push boundaries with financial regulations
- Employ questionable tactics to navigate fair play rules
- Use what Prats describes as “little tricks” to manage player registrations
- Constantly find new revenue streams when seemingly none exist
Rather than condemning these approaches, Prats views them as necessary survival tactics that have kept Barcelona’s head above water when they were, in his words, “on the verge of collapse, even disappearance.”
The sporting argument
Beyond the financial wizardry, Prats points to tangible sporting success under Laporta’s watch. He highlights Barcelona’s three trophies last season as evidence that the president’s methods, however unorthodox, are delivering results on the pitch.
“I don’t know where Barcelona would be without Laporta,” Prats mused, “but they certainly wouldn’t be winning titles, fighting for trophies, or have this squad and manager.”
The bottom line
While Prats doesn’t shy away from labelling Laporta a “troublemaker” with “populist” tendencies, his ultimate assessment is unambiguous: “Barcelona survives thanks to Laporta.”
For all the president’s rough edges and dodgy dealings, Prats believes the club would be in Barney Rubble without him. In a world of perfect options, Laporta might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but in Barcelona’s desperate situation, Prats sees him as the only bloke for the job.