Kylian Mbappe’s transfer to Barcelona is just a snow business, Haaland’s transfer would jeopardize the club’s finances, and whoever wants to come will have to comply with Barca’s new salary levels. That’s one of the highlights from the big interview with president Joan Laporta, who also mentioned La Liga title.🗣️”If we talk about a player, we would increase the price. Neither with Mbappé nor with others do I want to comment on the rumors, because it would harm the interests of the club” #FCB -Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Kylian Mbappé rumours pic.twitter.com/5imgRUJrmw— Football Talk (@Football_TaIk) March 26, 2022 While speaking with “Mundo Deportivo”, Barcelona’s main man explained what happens with Osumane Dembele’s contract, is there to worry about Araujo and Gavi and what is happening with The Super League. But first question had to be about a transfer rumor which involved the Catalonians and Kylian Mbappe, a long time Real target.“I think this is part of the Show Business of football, I have nothing to say about it. I don’t want to talk about players because if I do, the only thing I can do is harm the interests of our club. If we talk about a player and we had the intention of signing him, we would increase the price. Neither with this player nor with others do I want to comment on issues because it would harm the interests of the club” said Laporta.Quins bottle it against LeosBut it was hard not to ask the Barca president about other potential players, like Erling Haaland. The Norwegian is almost certain to leave Borussia in June and there are possible destinations for the player, with Barcelona being one of them. Still, Laporta was careful with any suggestions, since his club is still in financial plight, and it looks that the Catalonians will look elsewhere at the transfer market.“I insist, I will not talk about specific players but I can tell you that we will not carry out any operation that puts the institution at risk. It has been a maxim that we have followed since I became president again, it happened to us in various circumstances and we are going to continue with this philosophy and this criterion, not to put the institution at risk with operations that, not even if we were already healthy, we would” said LaportaBarça president Joan Laporta: “We will complete at least 4 signings to reinforce the attack, midfield and defence”. Kessié signed, Christensen verbally agreed. 🔵🔴 #FCB “Haaland? There are signings that we cannot do because it would hurt our economy until 2023″, Laporta added. pic.twitter.com/ITpvhRujrz— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 26, 2022 After declining to talk about other players, Barca president was asked about his own, specifically Osumana Dembele, Gavi and Araujo. The Frenchman is set to leave for free when the season ends, while Gavi and Araujo are negotiating new deals, but could be sold, just like Ilaix Moriba. “Dembele is a player that the coaches have known how to manage better, starting with Xavi. But we made him a renewal offer that expired on December 20 last year. Renewal of Dembele? Let’s see, the option he had has expired and we are already setting salary levels that all those who stay next season will have to accept. Some levels that have to maintain the sustainability and balance of the club and the squad. At the moment, for our purposes, we have no news that he wants to continue. Araujo and Gavi are the players that we want to continue, within these salary levels that we are establishing. We would like them to continue for many years. There is no need to be worried about their cases.Negotiations are underway and everything is going perfectly normally with Araujo and Gavi” explained Laporta.Araujo is asking Barcelona for three times the salary, Gavi is not satisfied with what the club is offering him eitherSince a magnificent display against bitter rivals Real and a great victory at Santiago Bernabeu (4-0), the title race is still Madrid’s to lose, but Laporta admitted that anything can happen and didn’t want to rule out anything.“The team is improving, the season has ups and downs, it’s true. Madrid have to enter a low phase, because they have kept thirteen or fourteen fixed players, and we have had more versatility. We have had low moments especially at the beginning and now we are in a good moment and we face this last stretch with the hope of being able to compete for the League. We are at twelve points, if we beat Rayo Vallecano we will be at nine and we have to think that we have to win all the games. It is a very big challenge but we like challenges and the whole club has this mentality” explained Laporta.A new Super League on the horizon but without Premier League clubs?The Super League was a failed attempt by Real’s president Florentino Perez, along with Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli, and Barcelona somehow remained with that due, unwilling to let go of the idea.”We are still here with Juventus, Real Madrid and other teams waiting. The English clubs are still waiting, whether it’s Manchester, Liverpool or the Germans too. They are waiting to see if it will be a new competition format or if it will be an improved Champions League. But we are here and we are winning in every legal case that has been filed” said Laporta.
