Joan Laporta selected as one of the top three candidates for Barcelona presidency
The contest to become the next president of Barcelona has narrowed down to three contenders, with Joan Laporta competing against Víctor Font and Marc Ciria for the position.
Among the six candidates, only Laporta, Font, and Ciria managed to gather the requisite backing from club members — socis — who will cast their votes for Barça’s next president on March 15.
Xavier Vilajoana, Daniel Juan, and William Maddock did not meet the requirement of 2,337 signatures from members to appear on the election ballot.
Laporta led the pack with 8,169 signatures, while Font and Ciria also garnered notable support, with Font receiving 5,144 signatures and Ciria 2,844.
Vilajoana fell short of the threshold, submitting 1,593 signatures, while Juan and Maddock recorded only 84 and nine, respectively.
Laporta initiated the election process in February by resigning to run again. He was elected in 2021, having previously served from 2003 to 2010, and is now aiming to prolong his presidency.
Considering the team’s achievements under coach Hansi Flick over the last 18 months, local media suggest that Laporta is the strong favorite to be chosen when members vote this month.
Nonetheless, with Font — who placed second to Laporta five years ago — and Ciria both gaining substantial support thus far, the outcome may not be as certain as initially anticipated.
Collectively, the signatures from Font, Ciria, and Vilajoana surpassed Laporta’s total, which has sparked speculation regarding a possible unification of the anti-Laporta vote.
With the candidate field established, focus shifts to the significant issues likely to shape the 12 days leading up to the election.
– Hansi Flick: Barcelona require more than Yamal to overcome Atlético in Copa
– Yamal is outshining young Ronaldo and Messi. Are Barcelona becoming overly reliant on him already?
– Lamine Yamal after his first career hat trick: I’m ‘happy’ again
On-field results and stability are crucial factors in elections at Barça, but the club’s financial condition, the Spotify Camp Nou renovation, prospective summer signings, and Lionel Messi’s future role at the club will also be key discussion points as campaigning heats up.
Font and Ciria have both focused significantly on the Messi topic — reminding members that Laporta was the president during the club legend’s departure — even if a return to playing remains highly improbable.
None of the three remaining candidates have yet disclosed any potential signings for this summer — a typical strategy during election periods — although Vilajoana had mentioned Harry Kane’s name.
