According to an exclusive from Barca Times, FC Barcelona is getting close to the completion of two deals with new sponsors after its president Joan Laporta travelled to Qatar on Thursday. According to the popular Twitter account with over 600,000 followers, Laporta’s most recent trip to the Middle East included not just Saudi Arabia but also other Gulf countries where he attended “secret meetings”.
Later, Barca Times published a photo of Laporta in Qatar provided by beIN Sports studio engineer Khaled Waleed. That displayed a pretty amusing photo of Laporta surrounded by floating $100 bills. Hence he tweeted “money is coming” in reference to the sitdown.
Barcelona are close to landing lucrative middle east sponsors
There is a video circulating of Laporta being asked whether it’s his first trip to Qatar. He then verifying that this is indeed his first trip to Qatar. “I’m delighted to be here,” Laporta says. He reveals that he’s meeting his “friend” Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah is the Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Baladi Holding and Baladi Express. Laporta adds that Al-Attiyah is his new ‘friend’. Barcelona president says he is travelling with him about the city and a shopping centre resembling a “palace” mall. “I value him greatly, and he is, without a doubt, my friend,” Laporta continues. When someone asks if a deal is in progress between Barca and Baladi, Laporta chuckles, as do many there including board member Xavier Puig. He claims it is a “top secret.”
Al-Attiyah follows Qatari and Baladi company CEO Hani Al-Sayadi, who watched Barcelona’s home game against Mallorca last month from a private box. It was certain that “forms of future cooperation” was the topic of the talk with the Catalans. Barca Times has not revealed which firms may be the two sponsors. However Barcelona wants fundings from the Middle East desperately. In addition they must comply with Financial Fair Play rules and make new recruits ahead of the 2023/2024 season.
Catalonia’s two largest Barcelona-covering newspapers, SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, verified Laporta’s trip to Qatar. Although insiders at Barcelona informed MD that it was a “professional private visit” with “nothing to do with club matters.”
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