Joan Laporta celebrates Barça’s legacy at 125th-anniversary gala

Barcelona: Joan Laporta took the spotlight at FC Barcelona’s 125th-anniversary event, celebrating the club’s rich history. As the president, he shared a heartfelt message, thanking everyone who has played a part in the club’s journey. His speech was filled with pride and hope for the future.

Laporta began by honoring Joan Gamper, the club’s founder, recognizing his vision that laid the groundwork for Barça. He spoke about how the club has grown over the years, describing it as a place where dreams come true.

Looking ahead, he discussed the new Spotify Camp Nou project, which aims to create a world-class stadium for over 100,000 fans. He believes this will set a new standard for stadiums worldwide.

“Thank you, Joan Gamper, for promoting Barça. Barça makes dreams come true. Now the dream is a stadium for more than 100,000 people. It will be the best stadium on the 5 continents,” he said.

Laporta also highlighted key moments in Barça’s history, paying tribute to legendary players like Hristo Stoichkov, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard, Deco, and Juliano Belletti. He praised their contributions to the club’s success.

He gave special recognition to Lionel Messi, calling him the most important player in Barça’s history. He also acknowledged Koeman and Xavi for their roles in keeping the club’s spirit alive during tough times.

“He [Messi] is the best player in history and the most decisive in the history of Barça,” he noted.

Laporta expressed pride in Barça’s connection to its home city, Barcelona, and to Catalonia. He recognized the millions of fans who share in the club’s joys and struggles around the world.

“Barça has always been proud and grateful to the city where it was born, Barcelona, and the country where it was born, Catalonia. It’s exciting to see millions of Barça fans who are happy and suffering around the world,” he said.

The speech became emotional when he honored Johan Cruyff, calling him one of the most important figures in Barça’s history.

“The flying Dutchman, one of the most important people in the history of Barça,” he remarked.

In closing, Laporta reflected on the club’s legacy, hoping to pass on the values and pride of Barcelona to future generations.

“Today we are heirs to Gamper and now we want to pass on Barça to our children and grandchildren. For many years. Long live Barça and long live Catalonia,” he concluded.

His final words captured the essence of Barça: a celebration of the past, a commitment to the present, and a vision for the future.

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