Joan Laporta's key quotes on Frenkie de Jong, Mbappe, Dembele and more
The Barcelona president spoke on Spanish radio about various club affairs on Tuesday evening
Joan Laporta spoke on Tot Costa on Catalunya Radio. He spoke a lot about the club’s economic situation but also mentioned some names in particular when asked about them. Here are his key quotes regarding the latter.
Lewandowski: We’ll let the football team and staff work, I can’t reply with detail because we’re working on the team to be competitive. It’s not easy, we come from a tough economic situation. Haaland or Lewandowski? It doesn’t matter who I like more. I like Ansu Fati a lot too.
Dembele: I think he wanted to stay but he’s very tempted by other options that are bette than ours. The offer was made some time ago and they have taken the margin of evaluating it until the season ends. We’d have liked an earlier answer but we can’t force them. We made an offer because the coach likes him and I do too, we’ve made a sizeable offer if you take into account the club’s finances. There’s a good relationship with the player in the dressing room, his friend Auba arrived, but he’s got agents who are looking after his interests, and we hope the decision is to renew.
Frenkie de Jong: We will let the sports staff work. There are players who are quoted who receive offers. We’ll do what’s most convenient for the club. If the finances work then no player will leave for economic reasons. In the sports field Xavi and Mateu Alemany reign and will decide the club’s sporting direction. I will follow what the club professionals do.
Dani Alves: Dani has completed the objectives he was signed for. Now there’s a conversation waiting to happen with those in charge of the sporting side to communicate their decision. He wants to play at the World Cup and we have liked his attitude. He has not interfered with the economics and has helped the new players adapt.
Mbappe: Although we could have signed Mbappe we will not, because he is asking for 40 or 50 million euros net. We will not pay 25-30m for a player, it would be comparatively offensive for those players starting their careers at Barcelona.
