08/26/2020 - 18:01
- Clarín.com
- sports
Ramón Planes is 52 years old. He is married to former rhythmic gymnast Bito Fuster , who was the 1991 world champion and two-time European champion. Ramón's career in soccer was not so successful: he was limited to the Unió Deportiva Lleida, a Catalan club that in 2010, pressed by debts, disappeared and sold its place in Second B.
Planes has worked as a sports director for more than 20 years. He went through Alavés, Espanyol, jumped to Tottenham; He arrived at Barcelona in 2018 to accompany Eric Abidal and now, with the Frenchman's departure, he assumes the main role in the middle of the tsunami. Planes, whose face is hardly known by an Argentine, was the only official voice in 24 hours.
"We do not contemplate the departure of Messi. He is the best in the world, we want him to stay," Planes said timidly.
With the bomb exploded, neither Lionel Messi nor Josep Maria Bartomeu, nor second-line leaders came out to mark position. But neither did they, and this draws a lot of attention, who shared a wardrobe with the Rosario until just a few days ago.
Ramón Planes, Barcelona's technical secretary. (Photo: DPA)
The word burofax rose to fame and, with the news bouncing everywhere and surpassing the coronavirus in Internet searches, the official silence gave rise to a cataract of rumors, speculation and potential sentences.
Since the 8-2 game against Bayern Munich, which overflowed a glass that had been about to collapse for some time, the only Barcelona player who spoke to the microphones was Gerard Piqué.
The defender, the third captain of the team, made his head available for the benefit of the team. Although days later the brand new coach, Ronald Koeman, who does not care about taking too much care of the forms and lets each of his movements filter, would have confirmed his confidence to continue at the club.
In these hours when social networks deal with the issue, that message from Piqué returned to the scene when the matter was the possible departure of Neymar. "He stays," the defender tweeted. And the end of the story is known. Now not even that.
Sergio Busquets is in charge of wearing the captain's tape when Messi is away. He also did not speak, although he gave a message. The midfielder trained this Wednesday at the Ciudad Deportiva together with Ansu Fati and Carle Aleñá . A strong photo when the official return to training is scheduled for next Monday.
Busquets, Ansu Fati and Carles Aleñá, in training at Barcelona. (Photo: EFE)
Two years ago, when Andrés Iniesta left the club, there was a meeting in the dressing room in which the referents defined the steps to follow. And among other things, they held a vote to choose the team captains.
In the first place was Messi, who was the heir to the film when "The Brain" was not on the field. Busquets climbed to second place. Piqué, who was fourth until that moment, became third, and Sergi Roberto occupied the last place, which Javier Mascherano had vacated with his departure.
Thus were four captains of the quarry for the pride of the club.
Now the ship is sinking and no one said a single word.
At the moment, some encrypted messages are imposed on Twitter such as that of the Chilean Arturo Vidal, to whom Koeman would have lowered his thumb.
When you corner a tiger he does not give up, he fights !!! 💪🏽👑😉👍🏽🐯 pic.twitter.com/UnZsLNzI9S
- Arturo Vidal (@ kingarturo23) August 25, 2020And the legal arm appears to unblock the exit of Leo from the club.
Through the shadows, each one will be moving. They say that Jorge Messi was in Milan for a while and there are also versions that take him to Manchester, the destinations that - for Inter and City - are poised to shelter this unexpected change of shirt.
They say that there is a minimal light of hope of continuity in Barcelona if Bartomeu resigns and the leadership changes.
They say that the club will remain firm in its position of not accepting that Messi leaves in a free condition and that way not a single euro enters the treasury.
They say that Leo pulled the rope but that he would accept without problems that his new club negotiates a transfer amount with the club of his entire life.
They say that he already spoke with Guardiola. Also that Inter has even stronger financial support than Manchester City thanks to the contribution that comes from Chinese capital.
They say that Paris Saint Germain must already be ruled out but at the same time it would be necessary to leave a gap for a more resounding click and a paradigm shift in the US MLS.
They say that a conclave between Messi and Bartomeu is imminent.
Many things are said. But in practice nothing is said. Because, of those who are at the heart of the conflict, no one speaks.
FK