Barcelona News Digest - February 9, 2026

Laporta to Resign as Elections Begin

FC Barcelona officially kicked off its presidential election process on Monday, February 9, with voting scheduled for March 15. In a dramatic move, current president Joan Laporta will resign this Monday to formally enter the race as a candidate, as reported by multiple sources including Marca and Sport.es.

In an interview with Barcelona's official media channels, Laporta defended his tenure and highlighted key achievements. "The relationship with Madrid is not good, the Superliga was a situation of permanent discomfort," Laporta stated, explaining the club's controversial exit from the European Super League project. He described it as "a project that was unraveling" and emphasized that Barcelona has "returned to the football family."

Laporta also praised sporting director Deco, calling his appointment "a very wise signing," and expressed confidence in manager Hansi Flick. According to Sport.es, Laporta is considered the favorite heading into the March 15 vote.

Font Opens Campaign Headquarters

Víctor Font, who finished second to Laporta in 2021, has already opened his campaign headquarters for his 'Nosaltres' (We) project on Diagonal Avenue in Barcelona. "It's in our hands," Font told supporters at the inaugural event, projecting optimism about his chances in what promises to be a competitive race.

At least one candidate has already begun planning for the summer transfer window, with Marca reporting that Julián Álvarez has entered "the electoral race" as a potential star signing being discussed by presidential hopefuls.

Lewandowski Makes History

On the pitch, Robert Lewandowski continues to write his name in the record books. The Polish striker has equaled Stjepan Bobek (1942-1958) as the fifth-highest scorer in European league history, according to Marca. His latest goal adds to an impressive campaign that has helped Barcelona maintain their league position.

Speaking of domestic dominance, Barcelona remains the only team in Europe that hasn't dropped a single point at home in league competition this season—a remarkable fortress mentality under Flick's management.

Flick's Man-Management Pays Off

Hansi Flick's personal touch with players continues to bear fruit. Sport.es revealed the conversation that convinced Marc Bernal to stay during the January transfer window when Turkish clubs showed interest. "Stay, relax, work and everything will come little by little," Flick told the young midfielder, who has since emerged as a key rotation option.

Similarly, Marc Casadó has bounced back after being dropped for three consecutive matches in early January, including the Supercopa clashes against Athletic and Real Madrid. Flick's tough love approach appears vindicated as Casadó has returned to form.

Camp Nou Update

Laporta also provided updates on the Spotify Camp Nou project, offering "definitive timelines" for the stadium reconstruction—a key issue for voters as they evaluate his presidency. The Espai Barça project remains central to the club's long-term vision and will likely feature prominently in campaign debates over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's reserve team, Barça Atlètic, dropped points against Barbastro, with the match overshadowed by another injury to promising winger Dani Rodríguez, raising concerns about the player's recurring fitness problems.