​Joan Laporta touched on a wide range of Barcelona topics, providing updates on transfers, the futures of key players, and the club’s World Cup contingent while speaking to the press in Dallas, where he had travelled to attend the Spain–France semifinal. He did not shy away from addressing the summer’s major issues. Perhaps the most striking update concerned the anticipated arrival of Karim Adeyemi, with Laporta confirming the club’s strong enthusiasm for the deal. “We are very excited about Adeyemi. We’ve liked him for a while. He’s dangerous and fast, and Deco handled the signing very well. The news came out when it was meant to,” Laporta said, as cited by Mundo Deportivo.
The Barcelona president also dismissed any speculation about Raphinha, insisting that the Brazilian remains central to the club’s plans despite the signings in attack. “Raphinha will stay. We have no interest in him leaving Barça. He’s a key player. With Gordon and Adeyemi, I see that we’re strengthening the attack, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to let Raphinha go, as he’s crucial for us,” he stated. A photo caption echoed the sentiment: “Raphinha not going anywhere, says Laporta.”
Laporta acknowledged that last season’s close calls left room for improvement in the final stages of La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, and he suggested that Barcelona’s results could have looked different with Raphinha firing on all cylinders and the team performing at its best.
On the ongoing Julian Álvarez saga, Laporta made clear that Barcelona would not be hurried and that a firm offer remains on the table. “Regarding the signing of Julian, obviously we’re not going to be dancing to anyone’s tune; we’ll set the pace. We’ve made an offer that isn’t unlimited, and we’ll announce when the time comes how long the offer remains valid,” he explained. He also confirmed a discussion with Atletico Madrid chief Miguel Ángel Gil, stressing that their relationship is amicable and clear. “We spoke very clearly and amicably, and I understand we have a very good relationship with them. There was some initial confusion regarding the offer we made, which I clarified. I simply told them that once they have an alternative, this offer remains valid.” Yet Laporta refused to disclose the figures involved, adding, “I’m not going to talk about this issue anymore because I’ve already said everything I had to say.”
Beyond club business, Laporta offered heartfelt praise for the Barça players representing Spain at the World Cup, with a particular mention for Lamine Yamal. He voiced his full support for all Barça players in Qatar, emphasizing that their success is the club’s success. “I give my full support to all the Barça players who are playing in the World Cup. I know that their success is our success, and I think Lamine is having a great World Cup. He’s been chosen MVP in a couple of games. The others are all doing very well—Pedri, Olmo, Cubars, … they’ve all been playing very well,” he noted.
On Pedri’s ongoing rotation with the national team, Laporta’s comments touched on the need for strategic management and balance as the season approaches. He acknowledged the challenges of integrating a World Cup-heavy workload into Barcelona’s broader plan, stressing the importance of keeping the squad fresh and competitive for the demands of domestic and European competitions ahead. In sum, Laporta’s Dallas appearance underscored a confident, forward-looking vision for Barcelona, balancing a readiness to push ahead with transfers and strategic decisions while recognizing the value of the club’s current stars and the impact of their national-team exploits.