Barcelona president Joan Laporta has highlighted the impact of La Masia on Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
Barca’s famed academy has produced nine players that will be in the squads for the title game in New Jersey, eight for La Roja – Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí, Dani Olmo, Eric Garcia, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella and Víctor Muñoz – and Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Messi is the most famous of its graduates and the 39-year-old will try to help his country win a second successive world title at the weekend against the European champions.
Laporta, who is in New York, told RAC1: “Messi has also reached the final and I am happy. It is [a source of] pride for La Masia.
“Messi is the past and present and Lamine is the present and future. We are very happy to have created a genuine system of playing at Barça. As president it gives me enormous pride to have trained these two players at our home and if we add that we [as a club] have Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Cubarsí, who is having a spectacular World Cup, Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, Ferran… It’s spectacular.”
Barcelona chief Laporta hopes referee clamps down on Argentina physicality
Sunday’s game will see a clash of styles with Spain’s possession-heavy gameplan coming up against the aggression and determination of Argentina.
The South Americans got away with a lot in the semi-final win over England and Laporta hopes referee Slavko Vincic clamps down early on their gamesmanship.
He added: “It is the best game that could be played, of different styles and the referee must be strong. Argentina are more aggressive and the Spanish national team plays with a style of play more like that of Barça. Barça is the best there is and everyone recognises it.”
Laporta has been in the United States since Monday and says it has proven to be a hugely beneficial trip so far.
“We have been to many events and had many meetings,” he said. “We have been with FIFA, La Liga, the [Spanish] Federation, who invited us. These are days of great intensity alongside the crème de la crème of world football.
“[La Liga president] Javier Tebas and [Spanish Football Federation president] Rafael Louzán are also here. We were able to have dinner and talk about football in general. I am very grateful to the Federation and the treatment they are giving us. We were also with [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino and his FIFA Board and we have talked a lot.”
