Barcelona Have a Better Team Than Real Madrid: President Laporta Claims

• The Clasico rivals recently went to war over the signature of Turkish midfielder Arda Guler
• President Joan Laporta has revealed why Barcelona is bigger than Real Madrid
• Barcelona recently missed out on signing Lionel Messi

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed the Catalan club are a better team than bitter rivals Real Madrid.

The two Spanish giants recently went to war over the signing of Turkish revelation Arda Guler.

The Blaugrana have completed two signings so far this summer after winning La Liga for the first time in four years, signing Manchester City's treble-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan and Spain international Inigo Martinez.

But the missing out on the signature of Guler appears to have sparked some reaction from the media.

Laporta on Barcelona, Madrid rivalry

During a recent interview with SPORT Barcelona’s President Laporta said:

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"We have a better team than Madrid and, individually, we are also better with a certain difference from our rivals.

"As a club member and fan, I am very satisfied with the team we are building.

We have won the Spanish League and we can continue to exercise hegemony in this competition.

I focus on making a good team over signing individuals.

We have signed Gundogan and Inigo Martinez and they will give us a great performance like the others who are going to come."

Laporta also hinted at what Barcelona are currently in the market for next, adding:

"Maybe a full-back is missing and something in midfield."

Laporta speaks on Messi’s transfer

The Catalan club failed in their attempt to bring Lionel Messi back to Spain.

The 2022 World Cup winner is to be unveiled at Inter Miami on Sunday after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent last month.

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"He had the idea of coming this time, we wanted him to come," Laporta said as quoted by ESPN

"It has not happened.

"We had authorisation from LaLiga for Leo's contract to be included. It was something that was discussed with Jorge [Lionel Messi's father and agent] and everything was defined.

"Jorge told us that he [Messi] had decided on Inter Miami because he had spent some very hard seasons in Paris, where he was under a lot of pressure, that in Miami he would be calmer and could think about the national team. We haven't talked anymore."

Laporta believes it is difficult to envision Messi, 36, returning to play for Barca before the end of his career.

Barcelona’s financial burden unchanged

Sports Brief, in another report, stated that Barcelona’s debt remains the same as when Lionel Messi left in 2021, with the Spanish champions still €1.35 billion in the negative.

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Laporta returned to office as president of the Blaugrana in March 2021 and was charged with the task of restoring financial order at Camp Nou.

Little progress has been made since then, with the vice president of economics, Eduard Romeu, revealing to Cadena Cope that the club’s debts remain at €1.35bn, with that figure not taking into account the €1.5bn cost of the Espai Barca project that will be delivering major redevelopment of the club’s famous stadium.