A party under the spotlight

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta didn’t shy away from addressing the buzz around Lamine Yamal’s 18th birthday celebration. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he not only downplayed the criticism but admitted: “What I regret is not being there. It was a private party, and anything Lamine does now will be under the microscope. But I’m glad he had a good time.”

Yamal celebrated on July 13 surrounded by friends, influencers, TikTokers, and singers. And while some were outraged by the extravagance, Laporta stood firmly behind him: “He had every right to celebrate. He came to training after and worked just as hard as anyone else. There’s nothing to criticize—on the contrary, we should congratulate him.”

He also spoke about Rashford… and those who didn’t come

Beyond the birthday chatter, Laporta took the chance to comment on the high-profile arrival of Marcus Rashford, who joins on loan from Manchester United. “There were several options, and we ended up with the one I liked the most,” he said, though he acknowledged interest in other names like Luis Díaz and Nico Williams.

Regarding the Liverpool winger, Laporta admitted: “It was difficult. Liverpool held firm, though I appreciate that the player really wanted to come.” As for Nico, he didn’t reveal much more, but he made it clear that Deco played a key role in pushing for Rashford: “At first, I was leaning towards other players, but Deco insisted we give him a chance.”

“He arrived like a rock”

When asked about the English forward, Laporta didn’t hold back: “He arrived like a rock. He’s at the perfect age to play for Barça and came with extraordinary motivation.” With such endorsement, Rashford instantly becomes one of the club’s biggest bets this season.

And while fans debate performances, contracts, and expectations, Laporta made one thing clear: Lamine can’t be blamed for celebrating life.