Barcelona (AFP)

Promoter of the motion of censure that drove Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu out, Jordi Farré aspires to succeed him at the head of Barça in the January 24 elections, deeming "fundamental to retain" the superstar Lionel Messi, at the end of his contract .

The 45-year-old engineer and entrepreneur, who promised pizzas and tattoos with the FC Barcelona crest to the "socios" (supporters-shareholders) who will sponsor his candidacy, also explains in an interview with AFP that he dreams of to bring back to Catalonia the Parisian Neymar, "the best investment in the world" in his eyes.

Q: Why did you launch the motion of censure against Josep Maria Bartomeu?

A: "It was very clear to us that there was general dissatisfaction among the socios. There were people very angry for the sporting side, others for Messi's false start, others for the economic situation ... It was the perfect moment ".

Q: The club's transitional management committee has assured that the club's economic situation is "worrying".

Will it be necessary to separate from certain players to resolve the economic situation?

A: "The economic situation is bad, but the club is not bankrupt either. It is poorly funded. The debt is short term, it should be phased out to the longer term and costs reduced by about 70%. million euros. We will think about how to do it. I do not believe that we will have to part with the best players. Barça needs its best players. It's a virtuous circle: if we have the best players, we win titles and we have more income. "

Q: To finance the Camp Nou renovation project, the previous management had taken out a loan of EUR 815m over 30 years from Goldman Sachs.

Can Barça keep this commitment financially?

A: "Espai Barça (name of the stadium renovation project, Editor's note) must be maintained, because it is one of the tools that will allow us to get out of the current situation. With that, we will be able to increase our income by almost EUR 200m. But we have to see if we have to go into debt to do so, and study the contract with Goldman Sachs. It must not endanger the economic future of the club. But it must be done, immediately. "

Q: Lionel Messi wanted to leave Barça this summer, and from January 1 will be able to negotiate freely with other clubs in view of a departure this summer.

Do you want to hold it back?

How? 'Or' What ?

A: "It's fundamental to retain Messi. We are working on it, and I hope that on January 25, after winning the election, the first thing I will do is sign his new contract. I will not reveal any private conversations but we're working on it. + Leo +, in the end, all he wants is to stay at Barça, and I'm sure there will be no problem.

Q: Neymar recently stated that he wants to play with Messi again, and you have publicly stated that you want to bring the Brazilian back to Barca.

Is his recruitment viable?

A: Neymar is a great footballer and I would love to have him here.

He is the second best player in the world, a spectacular player, who plays with the public.

This institution needs joy, and Neymar always has a smile.

And Neymar would cost us very little for Barça, because he sells rights, shirts, advertising, sponsors ... Recruiting a player of this caliber is not an expense, it's the best investment of the world. "

Interview by Daniel BOSQUE.

© 2020 AFP