Barcelona president Joan Laporta reckons they have a better team than arch-rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona won the La Liga title in the 2022-23 season with a 10-point lead against second-placed Real Madrid and Laporta feels the team can not only defend their crown but also go on to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League.
The Catalan club have added the services of Ilkay Gundogan and Iñigo Martinez to their squad and the duo is definitely going to add value.
“We have a better team than Madrid and, individually, we are also better, with some difference than our rivals,” Laporta told Sport. “As a club member and fan, I am very satisfied with the team we are building.”
On the other hand, Real Madrid added the services of players like Jude Bellingham, Joselu, Fran Garcia, and former Barca target Arda Guler during the off-season.
Laporta feels they have a competitive team and they will look to deliver their best in the next season.
“We already have a very competitive team,” Laporta said. “We have won the Spanish League and we can continue exercising dominance in this competition. We also want to be in the group of candidates to win the Champions League.
“I focus on making a good team over signing individuals. We have signed Gundogan and Martinez and they will give us great performances like the others that are going to come.
Laporta added they are targeting a right-back for the upcoming season to add more strength to their squad.
“We are missing a right-back and we are working on it. We also want to reinforce our midfield line.”
Earlier, Barcelona was in talks to bring back their former talisman, Lionel Messi but the club could not close the deal. Laporta revealed Messi wanted to join Inter Miami CF as there would be less pressure on him.
“He had the idea of coming this time, we wanted him to come,” Laporta said. “It has not happened.
“We had authorisation from LaLiga for Leo’s contract to be included. It was something that was discussed with Jorge [Lionel Messi’s father and agent] and everything was defined.
“Jorge told us that he [Messi] had decided on Inter Miami because he had spent some very hard seasons in Paris, where he was under a lot of pressure, that in Miami he would be calmer and could think about the national team. We haven’t talked anymore.”
