With the entirety of LaLiga furious with Joan Laporta over the ‘Dani Olmo case’ the Barcelona president blames the media.
With Barca unable to register Olmo and Pau Victor within their spending cap, they appealed to the Higher Sports Council who granted a three-month extension.
This angered both LaLiga and the Spanish FA [RFEF] and most of the country, with seven of their league rivals releasing statements condemning the move.
Surprisingly, alongside them all was Barcelona captain Raphinha, who said in a pre-Supercopa press conference: “If I were in another club and I saw the situation of Pau Víctor and Dani Olmo, perhaps I would think about whether it was better to be here.”
That statement went worldwide, and Laporta was spotted in conversation with the Brazilian at the next day’s training session.
And now, he’s claimed that it was the media who led Raphinha astray.
In an extraordinary press conference, a flustered and angry Laporta said: “The captain left and they tricked him, they wanted to lead him astray.
“He is an extraordinary player, an excellent person. He told us that it was the best club he could be at. He said that if I were outside… He has also called me from outside and that is what I complain about.
“About this false story that predicts the apocalypse. This has created a situation that is not true.”
Laporta claimed that Raphinha was ‘dejected’ after the press conference and went on to attack people within the club for making the issue seem bigger than it is.
“There was a false apocalyptic narrative coming from certain circles, either due to ignorance, bad faith or both,” he said. “It wasn’t about being on Laporta’s side, it was about being on Barça’s side.
“Does anyone think that the president of Barça could resign because of a decision by LaLiga or the RFEF?
“Poor Barça if it ends up in the hands of those who are currently acting as the opposition. I hope it never falls into these hands. They have prioritised their own interests over the interests of the team.”
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