{"id":551381,"date":"2020-05-12T16:57:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T20:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=551381"},"modified":"2020-05-12T16:57:09","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T20:57:09","slug":"report-pep-guardiola-could-return-to-barcelona-if-joan-laporta-re-elected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/05\/12\/report-pep-guardiola-could-return-to-barcelona-if-joan-laporta-re-elected\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Pep Guardiola Could Return to Barcelona if Joan Laporta Re-Elected"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Barcelona<\/a> president Joan Laporta has set his sights firmly on bringing Pep Guardiola back to the Camp Nou<\/a>, should his bid to be re-elected prove successful in 2021, according to a report by Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola Wanted Back at Barcelona by Presidential Candidate Joan Laporta<\/h2>\n

Guardiola and Laporta Have Worked Together Previously<\/h3>\n

Laporta who was club president of the Catalan side from 2003 to 2010, bore witness to Guardiola’s meteoric rise from youth team coach to the senior side’s manager in 2008.<\/p>\n

Working closely together, Guardiola guided Barcelona<\/a> to seven honours during Laporta’s final two years serving as president.<\/p>\n

These triumphs include; the 08\/09 UEFA Champions League<\/a>, two La Liga<\/a> titles, a Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espa\u00f1a victory, the UEFA Super Cup and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.<\/p>\n

With the 2021 FC Barcelona presidential election only a year away following current president Josep Bartomeu’s decision to step-down, Laporta declaring his aim to bring Guardiola back to the club should his bid be successful, will no doubt gain him some traction.<\/p>\n

What Laporta Said About the Situation<\/h3>\n

Following an interview with Catalan station TV3<\/a>, Laporta spoke on his devised plan stating,<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working to introduce myself as a presidential candidate. I\u2019ve been president before and I\u2019m excited to be back,”<\/p>\n

\u201cI would very much like Guardiola to come back, but now he is at City and it is a decision that Pep should take. He is a benchmark for Barcelona and many Catalans would like him to coach Barca again.”<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the right time, I will speak to the person we think should be a Barca coach from 2021.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guardiola May Well and Truly Make the Move<\/h3>\n

In light of Manchester City’s<\/a> recent two-year European ban for breaking UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, Guardiola’s future with the Citizens has been called into question.<\/p>\n

With an appeal in place, Guardiola has vowed to stay at the club whilst backing their fight against this UEFA ban.<\/p>\n

However, with just one year left on his contract, this scenario should not be ruled out.<\/p>\n

Guardiola’s boyhood club has been in turmoil following the resignation of six directors in April stemming from how the club was being run.<\/p>\n

The re-election of former president Laporta may well and truly put an end to this, as one of world football’s most powerful clubs seek to dominate once again.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>