The recent Club World Cup came and went, but one of the biggest names in football was missing: Barcelona. It felt a bit like a big party with one of the main guests nowhere to be seen. This absence really bothered Joan Laporta, the president of the Spanish giants. He felt so strongly about it that he actually had a chat with Gianni Infantino, the man in charge of FIFA.
Laporta just couldn’t wrap his head around how a club with Barcelona’s incredible history wasn’t part of the big show. He wasn’t shy about reminding everyone of the Blaugrana’s long list of wins and legendary players. It just didn’t seem fair to him. “I don’t think it’s right that we weren’t there,” Laporta said in an interview with ‘Mundo Deportivo’. “I already discussed this with the FIFA president. I believe Barça had to be in the competition because of our history.”
What really got under Laporta’s skin was the way some other teams got in. He pointed out that “wild cards” were handed out to clubs that, “with all due respect,” simply don’t have Barcelona’s famous track record. It’s like getting into an exclusive club based on who you know, not what you’ve achieved.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Despite his strong feelings, Laporta also found a silver lining in missing out on the tournament, which was held in the United States this summer. He talked about the timing, explaining, “It’s an off-season tournament, played when all other competitions have already finished.” He even joked that players at that point are “thinking more about holidays than playing.”
However, Laporta quickly added a touch of confidence, saying, “But I would have liked to play because we certainly would have won.” Still, he admitted there were real benefits to not going. “We also see advantages in not having participated,” he explained. “Our players will be less tired now, and that’s how competitions work.” So, while it stings to miss a big tournament, having fresh legs for the upcoming season might just be the unexpected bonus Barcelona needed.
