Joan Laporta to Eduard Romeu: 'You were the key person in Barça's financial rescue'

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Eduard Romeu, on the day of the latter's farewell, have spoken honestly and frankly in the Auditori 1899 about the reasons why the vice-president of the Economic Area has resigned from the position.

'Human quality and capacity'

Laporta addressed Romeu with the words "I am the one who should be grateful for your human capacity and quality. I am justified in saying that you were the key person in Barça's financial rescue. You and the other members of the Economic and Finance Area have been doing an extraordinary job ... Here at the club we work as a team, and Eduard's functions can be assumed by the department. Everything is under control in that respect, and I'm grateful for that. The job has indeed been done but there is also a lot of work still to do. We know that we can still count on your advice and support whenever we need it."

"You carry Barça sentiment in your heart" continued the president. "You want to stay connected to the club and its Foundation. You are especially sensitive to the Foundation's projects and very focused on Genuine, which says a lot about the kind of person you are. We would have all preferred Eduard not to have had to make this decision, but he has professional and personal needs. I am happy to accept his resignation because he has done such an extraordinary job. Barça will still be your home and this project will still be yours."

Romeu: 'An honour to serve the club'

Romeu began his own speech by saying "things are often much simpler than they might seem. I will never be able to do enough to express my gratitude to the president for granting me the huge honour of serving the club from within. It's been a marvellous experience."

"They have been two and a half intense years, 200% in support of Barça. But sometimes you have to look to new projects, and this can be difficult. Logically, this vice-presidency required my full-time dedication and I simply can't fit everything in with my other new projects. Qualification for the quarter finals of the Champions League felt like the right time. That was the final stage left to reach and it was something we couldn't control. But we did it and therefore achieved what we had budgeted for and had committed to. My work is done."

Romeu ended by saying that "in all my previous experiences, I kept my corporate tie on until the final day, but this is a tie I shall never take off, because it's ours. I am sure we will keep following the same route map. I call for unity among Barça supporters, because we know that the real enemy is outside."