Barcelona success is about more than trophies, says Laporta as he praises Lamine Yamal

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club’s success should be judged not only by the trophies it wins, but also by the quality and identity of its football.

Laporta also described Lamine Yamal as a “genius” with exceptional technical ability, saying the teenager’s maturity and understanding of the game at such a young age set him apart.

Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Laporta discussed Barcelona’s ambitions and the comparisons between Yamal, Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff. The interview was conducted shortly before he travelled to New York, where he is attending the third edition of the Johan Cruyff memorial events on Saturday.

The occasion will be followed by a tribute match at Johan Cruyff Arena on Sunday, featuring former players from Ajax and Barcelona to mark the 10th anniversary of Cruyff’s death. The friendly in Amsterdam is being staged for charity, with proceeds going to the Barca Foundation and the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

“Barcelona’s ambitions are always to fight for every trophy,” Laporta said. “Those expectations are deeply rooted in our history and identity. Our objective is to remain in contention until the final moment in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

“However, success is not measured by trophies alone. The way we play is also extremely important. We want a team that reflects our footballing identity through attractive, attacking and brave football, so that our members and supporters can feel proud.”

Yamal, Messi and Cruyff comparisons

Laporta said the development of young players and the continued promotion of talent from La Masia were central measures of the club’s project. He cited Messi and Yamal, who both came through Barcelona’s academy, as examples.

He accepted that comparisons between Yamal, Messi and Cruyff were inevitable, but stressed that each player belonged to a different era and had individual qualities.

“They are all unique and belong to different periods,” he said. “Lionel left his mark on an entire generation, while Johan changed the history of football and Barcelona.”

On Yamal, Laporta added: “He deserves the opportunity to write his own history and build his own legacy. He is a genius and an exceptional player, with remarkable technical ability, creativity and an outstanding capacity to dribble past opponents.

“What makes him even more special is his maturity and understanding of the game at such a very young age.”

Laporta said he was immensely proud that a player of Yamal’s ability had emerged from La Masia and believed the winger embodied Barcelona’s values, identity and footballing philosophy.

“We feel enormous pride that a player of his level came through La Masia and represents Barcelona’s values, identity and footballing philosophy,” he said. “Our responsibility is to protect him and support him throughout his development, providing the right sporting environment around him so he can fulfil his huge potential.”

“As club president, I feel very proud of Lamine, both as a footballer and as a person,” Laporta said.