Laporta skips Madrid trip as Barça board transition begins
Former Barça president declines Cerezo's invitation to pre-Copa del Rey directors' lunch, marking first away day without him at the helm
Joan Laporta won’t be making the trip to Madrid for Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Atlético, despite receiving a personal invitation from Colchoneros president Enrique Cerezo.
Stepping back out of respect
In what would have been the traditional pre-match directors’ lunch, Laporta has declined the invitation out of respect for the proper protocols, given he’s no longer officially at the Barcelona helm. Instead, Rafa Yuste, who now leads the interim management board, will represent the Catalan club at the customary gathering before the cup tie.
This marks the first away trip where Laporta won’t be leading the Barça delegation since his return to the presidency.
Cordial relations remain
Cerezo and Laporta have maintained a notably warm relationship over the years, which explains why the Atlético Madrid president was keen to have the Catalan lawyer at Thursday’s directorial meal despite the circumstances. However, Laporta felt it wouldn’t be appropriate given his current status.
Election preparations underway
On Monday, Laporta and the majority of his board submitted their resignations, allowing them to stand in the upcoming elections scheduled for March 15th. This move effectively brought the curtain down on the first five years of his second spell in charge at Camp Nou.
Laporta is now officially a pre-candidate for the presidential elections, and his diary reflects this change in status.
Final farewells
This morning, Laporta completed his final official business by saying goodbye to the players and coaching staff, who had enjoyed a day off yesterday. The presidential hopeful arrived at the Ciudad Deportiva training complex at 9:20am and spent nearly three and a half hours at the Barça facilities.
With Laporta now focusing on his election campaign, the club enters a brief period of interim management before members choose their next president next month. Talk about a right old shake-up at the Catalan giants!