Laporta and Al-Khelaïfi now show a warmer relationship

Joan Laporta and Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the respective presidents of FC Barcelona and PSG, are due to meet at 12:30 p.m. at Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris, ahead of tonight’s match at Parc des Princes, scheduled for 9 p.m. The lunch between the two executives reflects a clear shift in their relationship, from public disagreements to a warmer rapport.

The rapprochement stands out against the tensions that once separated them. In the summer of 2021, as Barcelona did not renew Leo Messi’s contract, Laporta and Al-Khelaïfi publicly clashed over PSG’s attempt to sign the Argentine. They also disagreed over the Super League. Since then, the two men have moved from keeping their distance to showing mutual respect.

The turning point came in Rome. On October 8, 2025, Laporta and Al-Khelaïfi embraced on the terrace of the Cavalieri hotel. Invited to the EFC gala dinner, the Barcelona president signalled his definitive departure from the Super League and his return to UEFA. Since then, the clubs have worked to foster better relations, even as player-related matters have at times remained between them.

Laporta is now a member of the EFC, which Al-Khelaïfi chairs, and hopes to become one of its vice-presidents next season. Their improved relationship contrasts with earlier episodes of rivalry between the clubs. In a previous Champions League round-of-16 tie, Barcelona lost 4-0 at Parc des Princes before turning the tie around with a 6-1 win at Camp Nou. Mundo Deportivo described the elimination as a painful one for the Paris side.

Tensions had also surfaced in the summer of 2017, when Barcelona tried to sign Marco Verratti. Mundo Deportivo then published a cover showing the Italian midfielder posing with the newspaper, presenting him as receptive to a move to Barcelona. Laporta and Al-Khelaïfi’s lunch, ahead of tonight’s sporting encounter, reflects how far their relationship has come since those disagreements.