“I love Laporta to death, I’m his fan”

In his interview with MD, besides talking about Haaland and how he manages the careers of his footballers, Rafaela Pepper is full of praise for the president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laportawith whom he first spoke when Zlatan Ibrahimovic He signed for Barça in the summer of 2009. “I love Laporta, I’m a big fan of his. I’m with him,” said the Brazilian lawyer with determination.

Mino has a good relationship with Laporta, I don’t know if you have too.

I love Laporta to death. They cannot ask me about Laporta because I am always at their disposal. I really admire Laporta. We talk about machismo here, but I interacted a lot with Laporta with Ibrahimovic’s pass. I remember that at the time the only contract the Catalan didn’t have was Ibra’s, and Laporta did it for me, as a gesture to facilitate the operation. Later, when I was away in Barcelona, ​​we also had contact. I am a fan. I am not rational when I talk about Laporta. Before Mino died, when rumors started to appear in the press that he had died -something that is not good from the press-, the first call to my phone was from Laporta. He called me to give his full support. So very good.

Seeing your good relationship with Laporta, this is a good time for you to help him, considering the financial conditions of the club and that many movements are expected this summer… If you ask for advice, what what would your response be?

Joan doesn’t need advice from me or anyone, I’m sure of that. But of course I’m always available. If he needs good players, we have them.

With their players they sounded for Barça Mazraoui or Xavi Simons, for example. Do any of them or others have the option to sign for the Barça club this summer?

I know it is very interesting for you to talk about transfers. But it seems inelegant to me, in relation to the player and his club, to talk about it. I always tell them to think about the championship. Of course, as an agency, we have a project organized with the player, and the steps to follow depending on the circumstances that arise. You do your job, I do mine until the end of time, because we can’t think of two things at the same time. It’s not good to walk into one club and think you can go to another. It’s like I think when I have a boyfriend if I will be with someone next year. Logic doesn’t work like that. So we tell the players that you think about the championship until the end of the season. In two weeks we can do it.

Therefore, we postpone the response of the names, but so that it is clear. Do you have any players that could suit Barça?

In my opinion, yes. There are players here who can do well for Barcelona and Barcelona know it.

And did Barcelona accept that recommendation?

Barcelona have always welcomed me very well, so whether the players come or not is a technical matter. Right now, we are willing, yes.

Do you think Messi’s return to Barça will be good?

You have to ask Barça that, not me.

But as a football expert, do you think Messi deserves to retire from the club that marked his career?

I think Messi deserves to retire wherever he wants, because he is one of the best players of all time and he has to finish where he is happy. The end of the race is a moment like the beginning.

He was talking then about his compatriot from Madrid Calafat, in Barça, his compatriot also Deco could be the new director of football. Do you think you can do the job Mateu Alemany is doing now?

I know him, like Mateu, who I think is doing great and very serious, while keeping his feet on the ground. Deco has this life story with Barça, being in Brazil he is also connected and the club is in his heart. And that is the most important thing to do the job well. I have no doubt that Deco values ​​Barça more than anything else, so if it happens, he will definitely do it.