Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, recently gave an interview on the Spanish TV3 program ‘Bestial’. He was incredibly open, holding nothing back. Right away, he faced a tough question: “Who is God? Cruyff or Messi?” Laporta did not hesitate with his answer.
“Cruyff,” he stated firmly. He then explained his reasoning, touching on his relationship with Lionel Messi. “We had a very good relationship with Messi,” Laporta shared, “but it soured when we didn’t renew his contract.” He added that the relationship “recovered more or less” after that. The club now hopes to give Messi “the great tribute he deserves.” Laporta also spoke about his personal faith, saying, “I believe in God; being a believer helps me, but I am not a regular churchgoer.” He then shared a humorous saying from a bishop: “Heaven is the place where every five minutes Barça scores a goal against Real Madrid.” Laporta concluded with a bold statement: “If God exists, he’s a Barça fan.”
During the show, Laporta also answered a series of quick-fire questions that offered more insights into his personality. When asked to choose between “sex or money,” he quickly responded, “No need to answer, sex. Sex is health.” He wasn’t shy about handing out compliments either, especially when it came to the club’s new coach, Hansi Flick.
Laporta clearly admires Flick, describing him with colorful language. “He is a Gladiator, he looks like Russell Crowe,” Laporta said, praising the coach. “He is a great discovery, a great coach, and a very kind guy.” Laporta highlighted Flick’s depth: “He has a lot of feeling. He is German, but he shows sensitivity with the players and with everyone else.” The president also noted Flick’s demanding nature, stating, “He is very demanding, you can’t change his plans.” Yet, he balanced this by adding, “but at the same time he has a lot of sensitivity. I like him very much.”