Joan Laporta has learned from the mistakes of his predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu. One of the mistakes that weighed most heavily during Bartomeu's management was in the area of transfers. Florentino Pérez managed to get ahead of Barcelona's plans on several occasions, taking young prospects who seemed destined for Barça.
The most memorable case is that of Vinícius Júnior. The young Brazilian was in Barça's orbit and negotiations were even considered to be advanced. However, Florentino Pérez offered a higher figure and managed to snatch Vinícius, who is now one of the most prominent figures at Real Madrid.
Something similar happened with Rodrygo Goes. Barcelona had practically sealed the transfer of the striker, but once again Madrid came forward with an offer that couldn't be refused. Both players are now key figures in Ancelotti's team.
Vinícius Júnior and His Case Will Not be Repeated: Joan Laporta Acts
Given this, Laporta is determined to prevent something like this from happening again. His goal is to regain competitiveness in the transfer market and secure young talent that stands out on the international scene. To do so, he has promised that Barça will act more quickly and offer attractive projects to young talents. Laporta knows that Barcelona must be fast and strategic if they want to compete with the economic power of Florentino and Real Madrid.
Now, a new gem on the market is catching the eye of the two giants of La Liga. It is Saba Kharebashvili, a 16-year-old Georgian prospect who is already standing out for Dinamo Tbilisi. With his 1.84 meters in height and his personality on the field, this left-back has sparked interest throughout Europe. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, both Barça and Madrid have already initiated contacts with the youngster's entourage.
Joan Laporta and the Barça of the kids
Laporta wants to make Barcelona an ideal destination for youngsters. His plan is clear: to offer playing time and confidence to promising players. Unlike its rival, which has had difficulties in giving continuity to young transfers, Barça is standing out for its commitment to the youth team. Examples such as Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí and Fermín López show that the team trusts the youth and gives them opportunities to develop in the first team.
Meanwhile, Madrid have promising youngsters in their squad such as Arda Güler and Endrick, who have yet to play a significant role in important matches. This context could be a factor in Barça's favor in the competition for Kharebashvili. Laporta, aware of this, wants to take advantage of the advantage and make Camp Nou the ideal destination for the young Georgian.
Kharebashvili's current value is around €300,000, an affordable figure that makes the player an attractive investment. Even though other European clubs, such as Milan and Napoli, are also interested, everything indicates that the youngster will end up in Spain. Laporta is determined that this time it will be Barcelona who win the race. For him, securing young talents is a priority and, this time, he will not allow Florentino Pérez to get ahead of him in the negotiations.