Laporta, president-elect, attends pre-match dinner with Osasuna as Barça chases 29th league title

Key facts

• Joan Laporta is president-elect of FC Barcelona but will not assume office until July 1, when Rafael Yuste will hand over power.
• The pre-match dinner between Osasuna and Barcelona directors took place at the Matintxo cider house in Cizur, two kilometers from Pamplona.
• Osasuna president Luis Sabalza hosted the meal; Barcelona was represented by acting president Rafael Yuste and president-elect Laporta.
• A young Barcelona fan asked Laporta if he would sign Julián Álvarez, star of Atlético Madrid; Laporta jokingly accused the boy of being prompted by journalists.
• Rafael Yuste reiterated the club's official line: focus on winning three points against Osasuna, not yet on securing the league title.
• Barcelona aims to clinch its 29th La Liga title; the match against Osasuna kicks off at 21:00 CEST at El Sadar.
• Raphinha and Bernal have been officially recalled to Barcelona's squad for the match.

A pre-match dinner with a president in waiting

Joan Laporta, the president-elect of FC Barcelona who will not formally take office until July 1, made a conspicuous appearance at the pre-match institutional dinner between Osasuna and Barcelona directors on Saturday evening. The meal was held at the Matintxo cider house in Cizur, a village two kilometers from Pamplona, hosted by Osasuna president Luis Sabalza. Barcelona's acting president, Rafael Yuste, led the official delegation, but it was Laporta's presence that drew the most attention.

A young fan's question and Laporta's playful response

Outside the restaurant, a young Barcelona supporter broke away from a group of fans and asked Laporta to autograph his shirt. The boy then inquired whether Laporta would sign Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez. Laporta responded with a smile: 'What? The journalists already told you to ask that, didn't they?' His remark suggested he suspected the question had been planted by reporters. The anecdote underscored the heightened interest in Barcelona's transfer plans as Laporta's formal presidency approaches.

Yuste and Laporta toe the party line on league ambitions

Speaking to the press before the dinner, Rafael Yuste adhered strictly to the script set by coach Hansi Flick. 'We have great respect for today's opponent and can only think about the three points, not yet about winning the league, although one thing may lead to another,' Yuste said. Laporta, when asked about his desire to clinch the title, echoed the same cautious tone, whispering: 'As soon as possible, as soon as possible.' The discipline in messaging reflects the club's determination to avoid complacency with the finish line in sight.

Barcelona's delegation and squad news

The Barcelona directorate traveling to Pamplona included, besides Laporta and Yuste, Josep Cubells, Josep Ignasi Macià, and Joan Solé. Also present at the meal were Alejandro Echevarria, Enric Masip, and former player Bojan Krkic. On the pitch, Barcelona received a boost with the official return of Raphinha and Bernal to the matchday squad. The team is aiming to secure its 29th La Liga title, with the match against Osasuna kicking off at 21:00 CEST at El Sadar.

The stakes: a league title within reach

Barcelona enters the match knowing that victory would bring them closer to the championship, though the club publicly insists on taking it game by game. The presence of Laporta, even before his official tenure begins, signals the transition of power and the heightened expectations surrounding the club's immediate future. With the league lead potentially on the line, every point matters as the season enters its decisive phase.

What comes next: Laporta's official takeover and summer plans

Laporta will formally assume the presidency on July 1, when Yuste hands over the reins. Until then, the president-elect is expected to remain involved in club affairs, including transfer strategy. The young fan's question about Julián Álvarez hints at the speculation that will dominate the summer window. For now, Barcelona's focus remains on the pitch, but the behind-the-scenes maneuvering has already begun.

A club balancing present and future

The dinner in Cizur encapsulated Barcelona's current dual reality: a team chasing an immediate league title while its incoming leadership prepares for the next chapter. Laporta's presence, Yuste's disciplined messaging, and the squad's return to full strength all point to a club determined to end the season on a high. Whether that high includes a 29th league title will depend on performances like the one expected at El Sadar.

The bottom line

• Joan Laporta, Barcelona's president-elect, attended the pre-match dinner but will not assume office until July 1.
• A young fan asked Laporta about signing Julián Álvarez, prompting a joking response from the president-elect.
• Acting president Rafael Yuste and Laporta both stressed the need to focus on the Osasuna match rather than the league title.
• Barcelona's squad includes returning players Raphinha and Bernal for the crucial La Liga fixture.
• The club is aiming for its 29th league title, with the match at El Sadar a key step toward that goal.