In Copenhagen, where European club football’s boardrooms have gathered for the 33rd assembly of the European Football Clubs, Barcelona president Joan Laporta marked the club’s full return to the organisation with a mixture of institutional diplomacy and familiar domestic tension. Barça are back within the body formerly known as the ECA after leaving during the Super League project, while relations with Real Madrid remain at a standstill.
Key takeaways
- Barcelona have returned as full members of European Football Clubs, with Laporta thanking chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi for helping facilitate the move.
- Laporta raised concerns over international breaks after Eric García suffered what appears to be a minor injury and Raphinha reported discomfort while with Brazil.
- The Barcelona president said he and Atlético Madrid chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín had repaired their personal relationship after tensions around Julián Álvarez during the summer.
- Barcelona and Real Madrid are due at a conciliation hearing in Madrid on 25 November following Barça’s legal action over Florentino Pérez’s comments.
- Laporta expects Barcelona’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain on 20 October to be one of Europe’s standout fixtures.
Barcelona return to Europe’s club table
Laporta said Barcelona had received a warm welcome in Copenhagen and had also been invited to take on an important role within EFC. He described the club’s return as a responsibility consistent with Barcelona’s historic involvement in European football institutions.
He gave particular credit to Paris Saint-Germain president Al-Khelaïfi, the EFC chairman, for his part in bringing Barcelona back into the organisation. The gathering comes as clubs continue to discuss the strain created by the packed international calendar.
Laporta said European sides share interests beyond their rivalry on the pitch: improving competitions, strengthening club finances, creating openings for young players and, crucially, safeguarding squads. He argued that some national-team windows have become so long and intense that they resemble a mini pre-season, increasing injury risks.
Barcelona have already felt that pressure. Eric García has picked up an injury believed to be slight, while Raphinha was withdrawn by Brazil after experiencing discomfort. Laporta said the club would await a clearer assessment, particularly with the Clásico approaching. He also noted that Real Madrid had concerns around Kylian Mbappé, while adding that he did not know the extent of the French forward’s issue.
National-team call-ups remain compulsory and Barcelona respect that obligation, Laporta said, but he stressed that clubs develop and prepare the players who must then return ready to compete for them.
Atlético reconciliation, Madrid dispute and the autumn fixtures
There was a more conciliatory note in Laporta’s account of his meeting with Gil Marín. The two executives embraced in Copenhagen and agreed that the good relationship between Barcelona and Atlético should continue. Laporta said they had put recent frictions behind them, including the controversy linked to Julián Álvarez in the summer, and that he was pleased to restore a personal connection with the Atlético executive.
His position on Real Madrid was markedly different. Barcelona have initiated legal proceedings seeking conciliation after Pérez accused the Catalan club of having “stolen” seven league titles. A meeting between the parties has been set for 25 November in Madrid.
Laporta said Barcelona could not allow what it considers false statements to go unanswered, and said the legal department reacts whenever the club believes it has been condemned publicly before any judgement or accused without basis. He wants a correction and a resolution, but stated that relations with Madrid are currently non-existent.
He also criticised Madrid’s role in the Negreira case, saying Barcelona believe their rivals entered the proceedings to prolong the matter and reinforce an already-established media narrative. In Laporta’s view, that dispute remains at the centre of the confrontation between the clubs.
Looking further into the European season, Laporta discussed a possible Champions League final between Barcelona and PSG with Al-Khelaïfi. He said both believe their sides are among the continent’s strongest: PSG arrive as reigning champions, while Barcelona have been playing at a high level. Their meeting on 20 October in Paris, he said, should be an exceptional occasion, with the two presidents expected to meet before the match.
Laporta also backed a Barcelona player to win the Ballon d’Or when the award is announced on the 26th. Lamine Yamal would make him especially happy, he said, praising the teenager’s previous season and strong start to the current campaign, as well as his ability to entertain supporters. Barcelona have several candidates, Laporta added, and the club hope the prize goes to one of them.
Barcelona’s women will meanwhile face Real Madrid in a Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday. Laporta acknowledged the departure of several accomplished players and the changes made to the squad, but said the new arrivals have adapted well. The team have continued to win while maintaining a high standard, and he expects another significant test against Madrid.
