Barcelona have had many world-class goalkeepers across different eras, but a major transfer nearly happened before Joan Laporta took charge. Víctor Valdés eventually became the club’s established No.1, yet during the early 2000s, Petr Čech was close to joining Barcelona before Joan Laporta entered the picture.
According to Pavel Zíka, Petr Čech’s former agent, the goalkeeper had a near-completed agreement with presidential candidate Lluís Bassat in 2003. Everything was lined up for Čech to move to the Camp Nou — until Laporta won the election.
Zíka explained how Laporta changed the entire race:
“We were finalising the details in our third meeting with the leading candidate. Then Joan Laporta, who was considered an outsider, suddenly promised: ‘I will bring David Beckham.’ That changed everything, and people gave their vote to Joan Laporta.”
Beckham eventually joined Real Madrid instead, but Laporta’s leadership resulted in the arrival of Ronaldinho — a decision Zíka says ultimately benefited the club.
Despite losing the chance to bring Čech to Barcelona, Zíka says he holds no resentment toward Laporta. He believes Laporta’s decision to sign Ronaldinho reshaped the club’s future:
“Ronaldinho became the best player in the world under Joan Laporta. But because of that, Čech never joined Barça. It remains my unfulfilled wish. Petr, his wife Martina, and I shed a tear, but we kept going.”
Six months later, Čech moved to Chelsea in January 2004 — the start of a legendary Premier League career.
Joan Laporta’s Barcelona Now Have a New Goalkeeping Star
Although Laporta missed out on signing Petr Čech in 2003, Barcelona now have another top prospect. Under the current project led by Laporta, young goalkeeper Joan García has impressed fans since his arrival from Espanyol and his recent return from injury.
Many believe that Laporta’s long-term vision once again gives Barcelona a goalkeeper capable of becoming one of the world’s best.
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