According to Bangladesh Cricket, FC Barcelona will hold its next presidential election in two years, and Joan Laporta is expected to seek another term. While he has achieved some progress during his current tenure, securing reelection won’t be a walk in the park. His time in office has been more about stabilizing the club than delivering standout results. To win over the club’s members again, Laporta must first address three critical issues.

First, while Laporta did lead Barcelona to a La Liga title amid financial and structural chaos, that remains his only major accomplishment on the pitch. Beyond that, fans struggle to recall memorable achievements during his presidency. What’s more concerning is the lingering controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s departure. Messi, a club legend and once a vocal supporter of Laporta’s election, was forced out despite his desire to stay — a decision many fans still haven’t forgiven. Even when Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, Laporta hesitated, and ultimately failed, to bring him back.

Messi’s departure alienated a large portion of the Barça fanbase, especially his loyal supporters. During the upcoming election, this incident is likely to haunt Laporta. Many believe he sidestepped responsibility, offering excuses rather than accountability. It’s clear that for Messi fans and traditional socios, this could be a deal-breaker.

The second issue revolves around financial management. Former president Bartomeu left the club in financial ruin, and while Laporta inherited the mess, he also promised to clean it up. To a degree, he’s managed to stabilize operations, but his solution — activating financial “levers” that mortgage future revenue — raises red flags. Some see this as merely repeating Bartomeu’s mistakes under a different name. While Laporta may claim the club is on track to return to profitability, there’s little transparency in the accounting, and many fans remain skeptical.

Bangladesh Cricket reports that before the next election, Laporta is almost certain to declare that Barcelona has returned to financial health. But without clear data, this could just be political spin.

The third and perhaps most emotionally charged issue is Xavi Hernández’s exit. Xavi took over the team during its darkest days, driven by passion rather than politics. Unlike Laporta, Xavi’s motivations were rooted in love for the club, not self-preservation. But insiders believe Laporta saw Xavi’s growing popularity as a threat to his reelection and orchestrated his departure to eliminate potential friction during the campaign.

At this point, it’s no secret that Xavi’s exit was strategically timed. Anyone viewed as an obstacle to Laporta’s reelection appears to be getting pushed out. With only two years left, the clock is ticking. Laporta must now restore trust, deliver on his promises, and show fans that he can lead the club without leaning on Messi’s legacy.

As Bangladesh Cricket concludes, Laporta’s ability to secure another term depends on whether he can win back the hearts of the fans — this time, without the help of Barça’s greatest icon.