Joan Laporta made herself heard on Monday after the death of Johan Neeskens. Barcelona’s president said the club is ‘devastated and shocked’ by the news about the club icon.
After losing the 1974 World Cup final, Neeskens switched from Ajax to Barcelona and grew into a great in Catalonia. “We are deeply saddened by the death of one of the best players of the 1970s,” Laporta said Barça One. ‘That affected us enormously. As president of Barça, I would like to express my condolences to his family.”
According to Laporta, Neeskens transferred his strong mentality to his teammates. ‘He always gave everything and knew everything Cullers (Barcelona fans, ed.) deeply. He was the epitome of Barça spirit. It was a period when the club’s identity was taking shape and that is thanks to players like Neeskens, who conveyed this in a very representative way.’
Privilege
During his first term as Barcelona president, Laporta Neeskens also served as an assistant coach. ‘A privilege’, says the director. ‘A person who immediately takes you to your heart. A great player and a great coach. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s reunited with his friends.”
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