Joan Laporta took advantage of his trip to Istanbul for FC Barcelona’s Champions League fixture against Galatasaray to meet senior executives from Limak Holding, the Turkish construction company responsible for the renovation of Spotify Camp Nou.
According to RAC1 (h/t SPORT), the Barcelona president and several members of his board held multiple meetings with Ebru Ozdemir, Limak’s chairwoman and chief executive, as well as other members of the company’s board.
The aim was to ease tensions and strengthen cooperation so that work on the stadium could be completed as smoothly and quickly as possible.
The atmosphere between the two parties was very positive. Barcelona and Limak held an official dinner together, and representatives from both delegations also sat together in the directors’ box at the stadium during the clash against Galatasaray.
Laporta met with Limak officials during Turkey trip. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The meetings were described as cordial, with both sides agreeing to put their differences aside and work towards the same objective: completing the renovation of the Spotify Camp Nou.
Both sides want the stadium completed as soon as possible
Barcelona and Limak have an obvious shared interest in bringing the Spotify Camp Nou project to completion without further delays. For now, the priority is to concentrate all available efforts on finishing the work.
Once the stadium is fully completed, including the roof, both parties will have the opportunity to assess how the renovation has progressed and defend their respective interests.
The report states that a legal dispute over penalty clauses relating to construction delays remains a possibility.
Laporta alluded to this prospect during the club’s most recent General Assembly, and it cannot currently be ruled out that the matter will ultimately end up in court. However, the issue was not discussed during this week’s meetings in Turkey.
In the final phase of redevelopment. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The immediate priority is to allow Barça supporters to enjoy their stadium at full capacity as soon as possible.
Third tier remains closed until the roof is installed
Barcelona do not currently intend to open the third tier of the Spotify Camp Nou to the public before the roof has been installed.
The club are, however, hoping to open some of the VIP boxes located in the ring between the second and third tiers between the end of this year and the beginning of 2027.
These facilities would generate additional revenue for Barcelona while work on the wider stadium project continues.
For now, both Barcelona and Limak appear focused on completing the renovation. Any disputes over delays and contractual penalties are being left aside while the two parties work towards the shared goal of delivering the finished stadium.