Joan Laporta and Pep Guardiola maintain one of the closest and most significant relationships in the blaugrana environment. Since Guardiola took over as Barça's coach in 2008, Laporta has always shown him trust, admiration, and absolute respect. That personal connection hasn't deteriorated over time, even though their professional paths separated.
Both share a very similar soccer vision. Even in their recent public meetings, it's clear there's mutual complicity and affection. In a world as volatile as professional soccer, that lasting alliance is a valuable asset, now it could play a role in an operation.
The legacy of the sextuple and the best soccer in the world
During their time together at Barça, Laporta as president and Guardiola as coach built a legendary era. The year 2009 is remembered as the highlight of that period, when the team achieved the historic sextuple (sextete).
Beyond the titles, what truly defined that era was the play style. A soccer of passing, control, and verticality that amazed the entire planet. With Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets as standard-bearers, that Barça embodied the purest soccer ideal.
Ter Stegen, the card Laporta wants to play with Pep
According to El Nacional, Joan Laporta is reportedly trying to take advantage of that good rapport with Pep Guardiola to offer Ter Stegen to Manchester City. The president sees Guardiola not only as an ally, but also as a possible way to solve one of the club's most complex contract situations. Ter Stegen has one of the highest salaries on the squad and must leave.
Barça urgently needs to free up wage mass to meet Fair Play requirements and register signings. In that sense, the transfer of the German goalkeeper would be an operation with multiple benefits, as it would allow for economic savings and, at the same time, open the door for Joan Garcia.
Joan Garcia is Barça's goalkeeper
With Ter Stegen's departure on the horizon, the club already has the alternative ready with Joan. At 24 years old, Joan has been one of the great revelations of La Liga, and Barça has strongly backed him. He is young, with great potential and, above all, with a much lower salary than the current starter.
The club's idea is to close a chapter with Ter Stegen and open another with a goalkeeper for the present and future. If Guardiola accepts the offer and City completes the operation, a new era would begin in goal. Meanwhile, Laporta keeps playing his cards, trusting the good relationship with Pep to bring one of the most delicate operations of this summer to a successful conclusion.