When the past decides the Barça elections
BarcelonaThe moment of truth is approaching at Barça with Sunday's elections. Víctor Font has had all the time in the world to build a solid project, recruiting fans and professionals, trying to create a diverse group under the banner of a different kind of Barça. UsA wise move, I'd say, since it allows for contrasting the idea of a collective with Laporta's personalism. But will it work?
Being able to vote for your president with electoral campaigns as visceral as municipal ones is a great advantage. But as happens in many municipal elections, voters don't always look at the electoral programs, if they even exist, nor do they pay attention to which names Laporta and Font have on their lists. Many members don't care who is part of this "We" because they only like one name: Laporta's. And the president of these last few years knows it.
Font understood a long time ago that he should get his hands dirty because many voters vote with their hearts, not their heads. Laporta accuses him of being like a computer, too cold. But Font has worked to improve in debates. He has. And he knows there are still undecided members. Members who must decide whether to vote or not. He knows he has to attack Laporta's weaknesses. And it's not enough for him to appoint family members, hire inexperienced companies, deal with shady Moldovan businessmen, Vitor Roque, Limak, fair play...all important issues, but few members know the details. Laporta knows he stirs emotions when he speaks and that the ball goes in. And this overshadows almost everything.
It's certainly curious that the two main topics of debate in these elections, which will decide the club's future, are rooted in the past: the handling of Messi's departure and the role at the club of a man, Alejandro Echevarría, whose political ideas we trust will always remain in the past. The further away, the better. A shadowy figure about whom everyone says... He knows how to navigate the offices with the same grace as Lamine Yamal on the pitch.
And then we have Messi. It's incredible that the Argentine still has the power to sway votes. Font is campaigning for him, championing him, he's received Xavi Hernández's support, and he understands that Messi is a weak point for Laporta. But he would need Messi to step up. Everyone knows that the Argentinian was not happy with Laporta, but he is not taking the step publicly. If the Argentine were to appear and support Xavi's statements, the scenario would change. If he remains silent, I don't think Laporta will lose the elections. Font is hitting his weak points hard, but for the moment Laporta is holding on, knowing that with Flick's support and the first team, he has everything to gain. Right now, I'd say only Messi can decide the elections in Font's favor, even though it sounds strange.
And whoever does, like Josep Maria Bartomeu, does more to benefit Laporta than help Font when he says he'll vote for the man from Granollers. Font is waiting for Messi's gesture and has run into that unwanted one from Bartomeu. Barça is complicated.