Laporta on Camp Nou Leaks: "The Rain Surprised Us, I Didn't Plan to Bring an Umbrella"

Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, addressed the significant water leaks observed at the Camp Nou following its renovation, which occurred during the team's match against Real Oviedo in the Spanish league.

Fans and journalists documented heavy water leaks from the stands, with water covering the ground in some areas by several centimeters. This raised questions about the quality of the work, which has been ongoing for two and a half years.

Following the match, the club president sought to reassure everyone, appearing himself soaked in the stands due to not having an umbrella. Speaking on the 'El Club de la Mitjanit' program on Catalunya Ràdio, Laporta stated: "We expected to get wet because of the rain, as the roof is not yet complete. I thought we would get wet like everyone else. The rain surprised us all, and I didn't plan to bring an umbrella. This was like an inauguration for this phase of the Camp Nou. I couldn't change my clothes because I had official commitments."

Laporta downplayed the significance of the water leaks at the stadium, adding: "The stadium is under construction, and we will gradually fix everything that needs repairing. Every day we see new things. The third tier is progressing well, as are the interior finishes. Everything is proceeding as planned."

Among the next steps in the renovation work is the completion and reopening of the North Stand, which had been scheduled for several weeks. Laporta said: "I hope to obtain the 1C license as soon as possible. It was initially scheduled to be ready by early January, and we should have had it before January 7, but it has been delayed. Will it be ready for the February 7 match against Mallorca? We will see. We are doing our utmost to get it done as soon as possible."