Barcelona has named Joan Laporta as the club’s new president after the 58-year-old was announced winner of Sunday’s election.
Laporta, who will oversee a second spell at the helm of Barcelona, won by a landslide as he garnered 58% of the votes ahead of Toni Freixa and Victor Font, who received 31.3% and 9.3% respectively.
The Spaniard’s first spell as Barcelona president brought about huge success. Having held the position between 2003 and 2010.
During his 7-year stint at the club, Barcelona won four La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, and Lionel Messi broke onto the scene.
With the election result announced in Laporta’s favour, Messi could be talked into a possible contract extension by the club’s new chief amid speculation surrounding the Argentine’s future.
Laporta had promised those who voted for him before the election that their best chance of retaining the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was to vote for him.
Meanwhile, there have been serious unrest at the club in recent months, ranging from financial woes to an alleged corruption case involving former chief Josep Bartomeu.
Bartomeu was arrested last week for paying a media group known as I3 Ventures – to use fake social media accounts to discredit opposition figures when they expressed views that went against the club.
Laporta will assume office for the second time as Barcelona gear up for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 battle with Paris Saint-Germain -trailing 4-1 on aggregate to the French champions – and the second-placed Blaugrana sit three points behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
