Marc Ciria: "Voting for Laporta is a waste of money"

BarcelonaMarc Ciria Roig (Barcelona, ​​1979) is one of the most active voices in the Barça environmentThis financier audited Josep Maria Bartomeu's management and has done the same for Joan Laporta, whom he voted for in the last elections. Disappointed with the Barcelona lawyer's lack of transparency and presidential style, he now leads Movement 42 and is in the final stretch of efforts to become a full-fledged candidate for the March 15 elections.

First of all, how are the signatures coming along? What's your forecast?

— We are very fortunate to have experienced people leading this effort. People who worked with Laporta and Font in 2021. In addition, we have a company of 110 people working on it as well. The collection at the stadium – on the day of the Levante match – wasn't as successful as at our headquarters, which is very well located. I'm sure we'll make it, but if we want the match to happen, if we want to have the necessary platform, we must double the minimum number of signatures.

What is the most expensive part of that whole process?

— The most difficult thing is what they've tried to achieve by scheduling the elections for March 15th while our professional teams are fighting for their survival. So, when I explain my project to the members, they tell me, "Yes, a very good project, but there's a match on Saturday." I think this is the first obstacle. It's hard to mobilize the members, to make them see that this is a historic match. And that's Laporta's responsibility; what he's trying to do is oust them, minimize participation, and ensure that only his supporters vote for him.

Who else is going to make the cut?

— The former president, who has the entire platform and the club's entire structure at his disposal, as we're seeing, I think will make the cut. We will too, and from there we'll see who else. It's very difficult to get a member's signature, especially if they'll only give it to you. The whole process isn't typical of the 21st century, but those are the rules of the game.

And why should members support them?

— We are a group of die-hard Barça fans who have done our homework. We've realized that either we modernize the club or we'll end up with the current ownership model. We represent modernization, without people from the past, without the 2003 generation. We are the only ones putting forward proposals down to the last detail. In these elections, there are options that want change and one option that represents continuing with an opaque model where family and friends occupy important positions without having the necessary qualifications. I voted for Mr. Laporta in 2021, and today I represent his opposition.

Why did you vote for him in 2021?

— Because when one of the best CEOs in Europe—Ferran Reverter—calls you and tells you he'll be Barça's CEO, you get excited. I thought Laporta had realized that this would rekindle the enthusiasm with top-level professionals. That he'd learned his lesson. But all that lasted only seven months. The disappointment and betrayal were absolute. From then on, my responsibility is to raise my hand, even if we're "leftists" or "bad Barça fans," and say that there's a different way to manage the club.

Reverter was still at the club when Messi left in tears. Now he's offering to return the favor and has dedicated a banner with a QR code so fans can send him videos. How many have they received?

— Around 5,000. Messi is the most important icon in the history of sport and of Barça. Letting him go is the biggest strategic mistake in the club's history. And bringing him back now would have a huge global impact. Besides, he's desperate to return. But he'll never do it with Laporta as president. He kicked him out and disowns him. You only have to listen to how he talks.

How does Laporta talk about Messi?

— With utter condescension, not giving him the place he deserves. For many members, this is outrageous.

Do they expect any explicit gesture from him [Messi] before the elections?

— Cruyff initially supported Núñez and, at another point in history, Laporta; Messi can support whomever he wants. And if he doesn't, that's fine too. We don't want monuments, nor roastsNo testimonial matches. We want Messi in every strategic area. To become competitive again and avoid losing €230 million overall during his term. His return is structural. It has a €300 million revenue impact for Barça.

Can you still imagine him as a footballer despite being 38 years old?

— This will be decided by a professional sports management team. And not by Alejandro Echevarría, Enric Masip, or Deco, a former employee of Jorge Mendes. We will have an independent sports management team.

So, a blank check for Messi?

— No, a well-developed project in which he can feel that he is part of the restructuring and modernization of Barça.

Given what he's proposing for Messi, is he telling us that voting for Laporta means losing money?

— Absolutely. What projects does Laporta propose to turn the economic situation around? The stadium. Okay, but 100% of what we generate at the stadium goes towards paying off the Espai Barça loan. As long as we don't have a business model in other areas, we'll continue losing money. If we take the easy way out, which is raising ticket prices, we'll drive away our members. And that's not even mentioning the supporters' section, the fan club movement...

What is your opinion of the complaint that has been filed against the management of the expired term?

— The practices of opacity are evident in recent years. From this point forward, I will neither offer my opinion nor take the position of condemning anyone before a complaint has been formally accepted.

You were with Laporta in the 2015 elections. What happened?

— He called me because he wanted to revitalize the financial side of things. I would have been the youngest director in the club's history. But the day I saw that Joan Oliver was going to be the general manager, and that I hadn't even been informed, I realized that perhaps I wasn't where I thought I was. I spoke with him and he said, "Look, if I could, I'd run myself." That was the end of the conversation.

If elected, what will he do about the sponsorship of Congo or the business dealings with New Era Visionary Group?

— We'll kick them out. And with Barça Vision we're going to regain control of the company, because the club valued something at 400 million that's now worthless.

What weighs more when voting, the paradigm shift in club management or the charisma of a president?

— We apply professional criteria to avoid losing the emotional connection with the Barça we all know. What I want is that many years from now, when I'm up there, no one will criticize me for not having tried to ensure that Barça remained owned by its members. And if the members don't elect us, I'll go home, try to take my children to Camp Nou, and when they take over the club, I'll remember that one day a group of romantics raised their hands and said that things could be different.

He has a similar discourse to that of other pre-candidates.

— Basically, what Víctor Font has.

Will he join forces with him?

— We're discussing it. We want what's best for Barça, from the perspective of generosity and humility. But first, what I want is the utmost legitimacy from the members in the signature drive. The members give me the legitimacy to be a candidate. So, we must go and get their signatures. Once we reach this point, we'll meet again. Many people are asking us to join forces, but I want to make it clear that if we do, it won't be against anyone, but rather to change the governance and management model. Everyone has their own teams and commitments, but we all need to be generous.

What does he mean?

— If we do this, it must be an unprecedented act of generosity and Barcelona spirit. And based on the signatures, we'll find a way to make it work. We can build the best candidacy in history, where, name by name, people feel proud of who will represent Barça. And this isn't about perks or compromises, because then we'll be doing the same thing that's happening now.

Time is running out. Who will take the lead? Will it depend on the number of signatures?

— Who wins? Who wins, Jan? Who beats him?

We didn't follow him...

— You can create the best project in the world and have the best team in the world, but there will come a day when you have to face a challenge. And in the end, people still vote for leadership. If we don't win, we won't govern. We can be here talking about how to govern, but ultimately you have a rival who knows perfectly well how to play and what they want to convey. And you need someone who is the best to win. It's a debate that must be conducted with humility and generosity. If it's not me, I'll stand by them. For the good of Barça. But if it is me, I want the same legitimacy. The same.