Berlin, June 6, 2015. While Barça won the Champions League final against Juventus, a UEFA employee counted Estelada flags among the Barça fans in the stadium. With the process in full swing, someone in Madrid had contacted the European body to inform it that the pro-independence flags were political banners and, according to the regulations, should be banned. A few days later UEFA fined Barça 30,000 eurosOn September 29 of that same year, Barça hosted Bayer Leverkusen. It was their first home game since the suspension and the public's response was clear: More Esteladas than ever were displayed, independence chants were made at the 17th minute and 14 seconds mark, and, above all, the Champions League anthem was played as a sign of protest.

Those who know Joan Laporta well assure that he is the best at handling pressure. He can take negotiations to the limit and, where many begin to get nervous, maintain his composure until the last minute. This virtue in the offices has a downside, as he often has to give up some principles or swallow toads to achieve his objectives. In a key week for Barça, where The reopening of the Camp Nou is planned for September. And the ability to register players for the start of La Liga, the club's executive president moves behind the scenes and balances power to get it all. It's what they call "lobbying" in the offices. I give, you give.

Barça narrowly missed out on reaching the Champions League final in Munich. However, this Bavarian city, a beer haven, played an important role in the club's season finale. Joan Laporta traveled there, taking advantage of the opportunity. Lamine Yamal's Spanish team played in the Nations League final. last weekend. The match, despite the participation of several Barça players, was secondary on the agenda of Barça's executive president. The visit had a clear purpose: to speak in person with Aleksander Čeferin, the president of UEFA, to obtain a reduction in the fine that European football's governing body intends to impose on Barça for repeatedly violating its fair play Financial.