President Joan Laporta's Barcelona revolution 3.0
The chief has overseen two similar huge overhauls of the squad in the last 18 years
For the third time in 18 years, Joan Laporta has started a revolution as president. This season it was to survive an economic crisis, and it starts the club’s post-Messi era.
The first time Laporta changed everything at Barca was back in 2003. The club was in a sporting crisis after the departure of Luis Figo, with Gaspart in charge.
Laporta won the 2003 elections and brought in Ronaldinho. That started one of the club’s most glorious eras.
In 2008, sporting crisis was back and Barca needed a new revolution, after two seasons without winning anything.
On the three occasions, world class stars had to go. In 2003, Riquelme and Frank de Boer left, while in 2008, under Pep Guardiola, Ronaldinho and Deco were expelled. Eto’o nearly too, but he stayed in the end.
This summer it was Leo Messi and Antoine Griezmann.
In 2004, the first revolution continued. Luis Garcia, Quaresma, Cocu, Kluivert, Saviola, Luis Enrique and Overmars left, while Deco, Giuly, Belletti, Sylvinho, Larsson and Eto’o arrived.
The latter was one of those who left in 2009, with Ibrahimovic arriving.
LA MASIA
Barcelona have turned to their academy in these times, whether for obligation or conviction. In 2003, Valdes, Oleguer and Iniesta came forward. In 2009, Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez.
This season it will be Ansu Fati, Araujo and Mingueza who continue to develop, along wit Pedri and Yusuf Demir. Nico, Gavi and Balde will also be involved this season, with the first two of those appearing already. History is cyclical.
