Excl: On Jules Kounde’s presentation, Laporta talks Lionel Messi, Bernardo Silva and player registration.
At the Tito Vilanova training facility today, Jules Kounde was formally introduced as a member of the Barcelona team while Camp Nou is being renovated. Contracts were signed after the presentation, there was some showboating, and then there was a press conference.
As is customary, Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, attended the news conference with the new signing and answered questions from the media.
It’s a big day for the club, we brought in a player of tremendous talent, he said as he welcomed Kounde to the team.
“Kounde has consistently expressed a desire to play for Barcelona and has resisted playing anywhere else. He’s a fantastic addition to the team.
Naturally, Laporta was questioned by the media about player registrations and how the club would go about doing it. The last two windows were a complete mess in that regard, but the president said that things are different now.
“There is confidence and excitement to record all deals. The club has completed a few tasks that will help us adhere to the rules without impeding us.
Laporta was questioned once more about the persistent rumors that Lionel Messi will return to Barcelona, despite the fact that he has previously addressed them.
I’m not going to comment because he plays for PSG. He plays for PSG, and we have wonderful memories of him, so I don’t want to speak on this subject. Afterward, we’ll see.
In addition to Messi, the club has ties to Marcos Alonso, Bernardo Silva, and Cesar Azpilicueta. Laport dropped a hint on their (or other) signings when he said:
Before the window closes, “there may yet be some further incorporations.”
“Bernardo? We are concentrating on registering our signings because it is the first step. After that, we’ll see what we can do, he continued.
Finally, he delivered the news regarding a third lever, a 25% sale of Barça Studios, very nonchalantly.
“We have moved forward with the sale of 25% of Barça Studios to Socios.com for €100 million.”
