Presidential hopeful Laporta takes Bernabeu by storm
The former Barcelona president, who is in the running to replace Bartomeu, surprised Real Madrid fans with a huge banner outside the Bernabéu.
Joan Laporta, former Barcelona president and a candidate to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu in the upcoming Camp Nou elections in March, sprung a surprise on unsuspecting Real Madrid fans on Tuesday morning by unveiling a huge campaign poster on the side of a residential building a few hundred metres from the Bernabéu. Under a colossal picture of Laporta, who was in the Camp Nou driving seat from 2003 to 2010, are the words: “Looking forward to seeing you again.”
Laporta in line to replace Bartomeu
Laporta is among the candidates to permanently replace Bartomeu after the former president stepped down in October in the wake of several institutional own goals including the alleged hiring of a social media company to discredit senior players, Leo Messi handing in a transfer request in the wake of the 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich and the firing of Ernesto Valverde and his replacement Quique Setién, all against a backdrop of the club’s economic issues.
Laporta is one of the front-runners to land the presidency after his successful spell at the helm and the lawyer and former politician’s showmanship was on full display with the unexpected marketing move on Madrid’s Castellana.
“At least they wrote it in Spanish,” said one passer-by as he contemplated the giant visage of Laporta, referring to Barcelona’s preference for Catalan.