Within a single week, Joan Laporta, the Barcelona president, moved from euphoria over broad financial support to growing unease about the team’s form. The mood in the squad shifted as Xavi’s side slipped into a rough patch, dragging results down and dampening optimism around the season.
The Blaugrana leader appeared tense after a league setback that left Real Madrid three points ahead of Barça, intensifying scrutiny in the locker room. Laporta reacted strongly, and an incident involving Lewandowski’s penalty and a potential VAR review for Eric García’s challenge against Rodrygo added to the tension as the headlines swirled around the club.
According to a match official, when the game ended, Barcelona’s president, D. Joan Laporta Estruch, entered the dressing room to seek clarity on several on-pitch decisions, repeatedly asking questions about key moments in the game. The official noted the presence of Sánchez Martínez and his assistants during these exchanges.
The post-match proceedings included a controversial incident documented in which Laporta’s unexpected visit to the arbitration room coincided with tense moments. The records suggest he was invited to leave the arbitration area calmly, as noted in the official account of the event.
turbulent days
These are turbulent days for Barça’s president as a busy summer reshaped the club’s plans. The club activated multiple economic levers, generating substantial liquidity that allowed Xavi to pursue a more competitive squad. Despite efforts, the season’s early results tempered the initial optimism, including a 3-3 draw with Inter that halted a smoother Champions League trajectory.
October proved challenging as Barça dropped a clásicos, losing leadership and facing a complicated calendar. Reports also touched on personal stress for Laporta, including an incident involving one of his sons in Madrid, where he faced legal allegations unrelated to football.
The club closed the summer window by investing around 153 million euros to bring in eight new players, with Lewandowski positioned as a symbol of the project’s ambition. Barcelona hoped to compete with Europe’s elite, but a difficult fourth Champions League fixture left the team closer to elimination and with questions about Xavi’s authority.
Laporta made a direct public show of support for the coach just before a trip to Madrid, stating publicly that his trust in Xavi remained intact. The club also acknowledged the need to address criticism directed at both the coach and the captaincy, where salary discussions and cooperation had previously triggered debate within the squad.
on the way to Paris
The president traveled to Paris for the Ballon d’Or premiere, but the week’s challenges continued to mount. After a 1-0 loss to Inter, Laporta reportedly contacted UEFA to raise concerns about officiating in Milan, arguing that Pedri’s goal had not been properly recognized. He later confronted the referee’s room again in Madrid to revisit the decisions around Lewandowski’s incident, a move mirrored by Barca’s sporting director in public comments.
As Laporta neared the end of the third month in charge of the team’s current campaign, the dream of stability clashed with harsh realities. The club’s brand image and sporting prospects both felt strain, with a disappointing run in Europe and a tighter league gap opening as Madrid pressed for control.
In the midst of a demanding week, Laporta’s steps were cautious yet decisive. The club looked to stabilize the situation, maintain faith in the project, and ensure the team could refocus on the core objective: competing at the highest levels while preserving Barça’s legacy on and off the pitch. In conversations with the media, the president emphasized the importance of unity and clarity in leadership, aiming to steady captains and staff alike. The broader narrative remained that Barça would continue to invest in talent and infrastructure to support a long-term return to Europe’s top tier.
On the Paris trip for the Ballon d’Or events, the growing pressure tied to recent results and officiating debates underscored the need for a careful, strategic approach to management and competition. Officials highlighted that while frustration had been intense, the club would pursue its objectives with a steady hand, balancing ambition with the realities of a demanding calendar.
Overall, the season’s early chapters painted a portrait of a club striving to harmonize financial strength, sporting ambition, and leadership accountability. The path ahead required measured steps: restoring confidence in the coach, aligning the captaincy with club goals, and defending Barça’s standards while navigating the pressures of domestic and European football.