Barcelona president Joan Laporta provided a comprehensive update on the club's transfer dealings and key player situations ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The highlight was the confirmation of the imminent signing of forward Karim Adeyemi. Laporta stated, "We are very excited about Adeyemi. We have liked him for a while. He’s dangerous and fast, and Deco handled the signing very well. The news came out when it was meant to." This highlights the club's intent to strengthen their attacking options significantly.
Regarding Raphinha, Laporta dismissed any speculation about the Brazilian leaving: "Raphinha will stay. We have no interest in him leaving Barça. He’s a key player. With Gordon and Adeyemi, I see that we’re strengthening the attack, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to let Raphinha go, as he’s crucial for us." He remarked that Raphinha’s form was affected during the critical final phases of La Liga, the Champions League, and Copa del Rey last season.
On the prolonged Julian Alvarez situation, Laporta emphasized a measured approach: "We’re not going to be dancing to anyone’s tune; we’ll set the pace. We’ve made an offer that isn’t unlimited, and we’ll announce when the time comes how long the offer remains valid." He confirmed having spoken amicably with Atletico Madrid’s Miguel Angel Gil to clarify the offer and maintain good relations between the clubs.
Laporta also showed full support for Barcelona players participating in the World Cup, particularly highlighting Lamine Yamal, who earned MVP honors in several games. He also praised Pedri and Olmo’s performances.
Anthony Gordon’s development was noted positively: "I see him excelling. The other day against Norway he made the pass for one of Bellingham’s goals, but Gordon’s pass was very good." The president admired Lionel Messi’s brilliant World Cup run with Argentina, scoring eight goals and contributing decisively to the team's success.
Regarding Alvarez’s goal against Switzerland, Laporta commented, "It was a fantastic goal," and coyly replied on whether the club would sign him: "We’ll see about that."
