Barcelona’s presidential campaign is not even at full speed yet and the first fireworks have already gone off.
One of the candidates confirmed who intends to run in the 2026 elections went on El Chiringuito this week and made a big promise. William Maddock says he has a signing lined up “of the level of Ronaldinho or Beckham.”
Maddock is a Barcelona-based businessman and club member who has emerged as a surprise pre-candidate in the presidential race
“It’s a real bombshell,” he said.
At Barça, invoking
Ronaldinho is kind of a big deal. Mentioning him and Beckham together inevitably brings back memories of 2003, when Joan Laporta campaigned on the English star before pivoting to the Brazilian who changed the club’s trajectory.
Maddock insists his project is “different from the rest” and argues that the club’s statutes are “outdated.” In his view, Barça needs structural updates as much as sporting ones.
On the football side, he explained that his team is in talks in England to try to secure the return of a former Barça player once the FIFA World Cup finishes. He made a point of clarifying that the player does not currently compete in the Premier League. No names, of course. Just enough detail to spark theories.
Despite his headline-grabbing promise, Maddock’s candidacy is seen as a longshot. It’s Laporta himself who is seen as the overwhelming favorite, given Barcelona’s financial recovery and good performances on the pitch under his watch.
All of this lands in the middle of a tightly choreographed electoral calendar. The club officially triggered the process on February 9th, and members will vote on March 15th. The date could coincide with a home match against Sevilla at the Camp Nou, which would give the day an added sense of occasion.
Laporta will be tough to beat, and he’s already in campaign mode. When announcing the elections, he said, “It is the most appropriate date for the ordinary functioning of the club, both at an institutional level and, above all, a sporting one.”
He predicted a “model” process with “great participation” and added that it would become “a true celebration of Barcelona fans”.
To comply with the statutes, Laporta is stepping aside as president during the campaign period, with Rafael Yuste assuming interim responsibilities.
Other names have also positioned themselves. Víctor Font is back – he’s the second-biggest name after Laporta, but still considered far behind in the odds. Xavi Vilajoana and Marc Ciria have expressed their intention to run. Joan Camprubí has been mentioned in the conversation, though he has yet to formally confirm a bid.
Any hopeful must meet strict requirements, including years of membership and a significant financial guarantee. It’s safe to say that the candidates behind Laporta will try their best to get attention and shake up the race, which at the moment, is seen by experts as on the path to an inevitable victory for the current president.
