Albert Soler, from getting Rubiales’ approval for CSD (anonymously) to being appointed as Negreira’s accomplice

“Are you talking about Albert Soler?”, asked a journalist during question hour. Camps threw the balls out, neither confirming nor denying that he was referring to the person who was the organization’s second-in-command after José Manuel Franco, executive director of the Supreme Sports Council between May 2021 and January 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the same institution. , both under the authority of Minister Miquel Iceta. But no one can escape it, and this is how he escapes all the national sports offices this newspaper consults. Barça manager between 2014-2021Headed by Josep Maria Bartomeu, he was the neglected subject of the accusation.

Was Soler aware of Barça’s payments to Enríquez Negreira for services allegedly not provided? From their environment, they categorically deny that this is the case. they explain it went to the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office a few months ago to testify as a witness and that he was asked about Javier Enríquez’s reports for Barça and that he was aware of his position as Barça’s professional sports director. But in no case did he know that he had any connection with Enríquez Negreira, which he was said to have heard through the press.

Revenge? betrayal?

So why is RFEF pointing to it? He reassures Las Rozas, in Camps’ voice, that he has indications that he really knows her. It is clear from other governing offices of the national sport that Whether or not the former referees knew about the vice president, revenge is a powerful motivator for Rubiales against someone he feels has been betrayed..

EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA from the Prensa Ibérica group, on condition of anonymity, Seven sources familiar with the relations between Rubiales and Soler They lived together as RFEF president and CSD general manager, respectively. And in many cases, versions differ radically, even revealing that they are contradictory.

Soler was the manager of Barça for seven years. At the time, thanks to Bartomeu’s (later followed by Laporta) policy of building bridges with the Federation and confronting LaLiga, establishes good relations with Rubiales and CampsHe has been acquainted for 25 years thanks to his chance at positions of a sporting nature in various Catalan public institutions.

Soler has already left Barça following Bartomeu’s resignation as Barça chairman, while José Manuel Franco is appointed Minister of State for Sport, replacing Irene Lozano. No sports management experience One of their first duties is to hire a general manager with this experience.. The chosen one eventually becomes Soler. Like? Here is the first big breakup.

Who called whom?

They assure Soler’s entourage that it was Franco who picked up the phone to offer him the position he already held between 2008 and 2011, and has even been head of CSD for several months, and he did not seek the job. , because in fact several professionals turned down offers to respond to the Government’s call. In other offices the version is different: Soler called Rubiales and other leaders, such as the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee. Alexander Whiteasking them for help to fill this position. And when Franco heard that these leaders recommended the election of the former Barça coach, he decided to appoint him.

In any event, the head of the RFEF gave his approval to Soler, whether decisive for his appointment or not. Some say he did it because of his good past relationship, but this never stopped trusting him. Other sources state that within the Government they thought Soler was Rubiales’ man in the Socialist Executive. Dating in LaLiga was very sad.

Soler was tasked with developing several projects that the Government considered strategic for the current mandate. These include the introduction of a professional women’s soccer league, the announcement and approval of a new Sporting Law, or the creation of a new support program for elite Olympic athletes, eventually known as Team Spain.

With the first of these orders, problems begin between RFEF and Soler. Sources close to CSD’s then-general director assure that the only problem was: Rubiales didn’t want the league to go professional because the Federation would lose control (which it did) In the Women’s Major League, when she was tasked with advancing it. Another version among those gathered was that Soler blessed the assumptions of Rubiales’ natural rivals in the construction of the new league.

A source from PSOE assures very strongly that Soler never worked in the interests of CSD, but in the interests of Rubiales first and then Tebas in these endless football battles. From their surroundings, they explain that if, on the contrary, mixed both at different stages, this is precisely why. He always prioritizes the interests of the state and his responsibilities as a public official..

loss of trust

This dialectic is what made Foreign Minister José Manuel Franco fall out of favor. It comes out after the Rubiales case broke out, It resulted from the publication of multiple private speeches by the RFEF president by ‘El Confidencial’, which resulted in Justice investigating him for crimes of corruption and unfair management in business.

Two complaints from the AFE and the International Doge of Madrid come to CSD for submission to the Sport Administrative Court (TAD). Possible disqualification of Rubiales. The government understands that with the law in hand, it must freeze any administrative procedure until the Justice decides on the case. However, Soler is actively and passively moving forward and insists that TAD be the one to make that decision.

And it’s because it’s his responsibility as a public administrator, they say, and because he personally forced the resignation months ago with Alfonso Feijoo, the former president of the Rugby Federation. The passport scandal that left the Spanish team without playing the World Cup. And it would be biased if he took a different position than he did..

change sides?

This insistence, however, is interpreted within the Government and also in the RFEF as follows: Soler’s undisguised will to ‘kill’ Rubiales. The almost unanimous conclusion of those who walked through the football offices was that the general director went over to Thebes side, completing his betrayal of the person who supported him for the position. It’s embarrassing for a CSD who is demanding moderation (and sometimes even distance) between LaLiga and the RFEF from the top of the government.

That’s when, in the summer, Soler loses Franco’s trust. The last conversation between Rubiales and him took place at that time. In the fall, it is heard in the Government that Soler “draws nothing” in the CSD.. Finally, on January 10, 2023, he left his position as CEO. He resigns because he thinks he is not allowed to work according to his environment and because four or five major projects given to him have been completed. It has been heard from the government that they want to give him an honorable exit, but that he has already lacked strength in his body for weeks or even months.

After Soler left the government, he applied for the agency consultancy, owned by former socialist minister Pepe Blanco. One of the customers of this company for three years is the LaLiga, which aroused reasonable suspicions.. They assure from Soler’s environment that he does not manage or interfere in any way with the company account in question.

And so we come to the final part, with the obvious hints that Soler knew and was hiding the details of the connection between Barça and Enríquez Negreira. It will be necessary to see whether the RFEF decides to file a complaint or not.. And if so, if everything is actually a vengeance or a piece of cloth to be cut.