Barcelona has successfully regained a significant part of its institutional influence recently, after its external relations clearly deteriorated during the club's crisis between 2020 and 2021.
According to a report published by the newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", Barcelona has today become more present and influential in decision-making circles within European football, with improved relations with La Liga, UEFA, and the Spanish Football Federation, alongside economic institutions and sponsors.
The report suggests that Joan Laporta has played a key role in changing this image, as the club has shifted towards rebuilding its relationships with various institutions instead of continuing the confrontational stance that characterized previous years.
Barcelona returns to the heart of European football.
One of the most significant changes is Barcelona's return to the European Clubs Foundation, known as EFC, which was previously known as the European Clubs Association "ECA". This move came after Barcelona stepped back from its direct involvement with the organizing body of the European Super League, before the unanimous approval of the club's return to EFC in February 2026.
The report indicates that Barcelona has become a candidate for the vice-presidency of the organization in 2027, following meetings that brought together Joan Laporta with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and EFC, and Aleksander Čeferin, president of UEFA, during the Copenhagen meetings last September.
This step is of great importance, especially as EFC represents over 800 European clubs and is involved in key issues related to competitions, match schedules, financial regulations, transfers, and commercial policy.
Thus, Barcelona has transitioned from a direct confrontation with European football institutions to returning to the same table and participating in decision-making.
There has been a noticeable change in Joan Laporta's relationship with La Liga.
The relationship between Joan Laporta and Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has seen a notable transformation after years of disputes and tension.
According to the report, the rapprochement became publicly apparent during the inauguration ceremony of Joan Laporta as president of Barcelona for a new term last July, where the club president recognized the importance of improving the relationship with the league, despite some ongoing points of contention between the two parties.
Laporta described La Liga as a "necessary partner", indicating Barcelona's desire to adopt a more collaborative approach with the organization that has had a strained relationship for years.
Flick's successes have strengthened Barcelona's position.
The report links part of Barcelona's institutional recovery to the sporting successes achieved by the team since Hans Flick took over as coach. The results and titles won by the team have granted Barcelona greater influence, and federations have become more sensitive to the club's demands, especially as their national teams rely on several stars from the squad.
The report indicates that players such as Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, and Raphinha benefited from a more cautious approach during the recent international break. Furthermore, when Barcelona enters the transfer market, they are no longer seen as a club suffering under the weight of their financial crisis, but rather as a party capable of negotiating and moving with greater strength.
Barcelona has regained the confidence of economic institutions.
On the economic front, Barcelona has also succeeded in restoring some of the trust that was harmed during the previous management crisis.
The report clarified that the club had to engage with international banks and major investors during the "Espai Barça" project, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, alongside reassessing some financial aspects of the project.
Despite the challenging financing conditions, the report indicates that Barcelona has become more capable of managing this file and controlling its details. Last September, the club members approved new funding of €510 million to complete the Spotify Camp Nou project.
The project represents for Barcelona more than just a stadium renovation, as the club relies on commercial exploitation and opening new revenue streams through a range of activities and projects related to the stadium.
Joan Laporta has emerged from the crisis with a stronger position.
The report concludes that this institutional, sporting, and economic shift has also reflected on Joan Laporta's position within the club, after he was re-elected as president of Barcelona with 68% of the vote. His economic decisions received support from the general assembly, despite criticisms regarding delays in the implementation of certain phases of the stadium project and previous estimates.
According to "Mundo Deportivo", the current picture looks significantly different from the years when Barcelona experienced institutional isolation and a crisis in its external relations, as the club has gradually returned to the sphere of influence and decision-making in Spanish and European football.
