FC Barcelona is experiencing one of the most turbulent moments in its recent history. Joan Laporta, president of the club since his return to office in 2021, has taken a radical step that has left everyone and everyone astonished. In an explosive interview given to Catalunya Ràdio and later expanded in an improvised press conference at the Spotify Camp Nou offices, Laporta bluntly announced that five players will be fired in the coming months, describing them as “those mainly responsible for the disappointments and sporting failures of recent seasons.”

“Enough is enough. We cannot continue deceiving ourselves. There are players who have lost hope, who do not perform, who do not identify with the shield and who, what is worse, drag the rest of the team down. I will fire them all. There is no going back,” Laporta declared in a firm and visibly irritated tone. The president did not limit himself to vague accusations: he named one by one the five players who, according to him, must leave the club before the end of the 2026 summer market or, failing that, in January 2027.

The list, which has caused an earthquake on social networks and in the specialized media, is the following:

Ansu Fati The youth player who was once compared to Messi and who became the future of Barça has fallen from grace. Laporta pointed out him as “a player who has not been able to recover mentally or physically from injuries” and who “has disappointed the expectations he generated.” Raphinha The Brazilian, signed in 2022 for a figure close to 60 million euros, was harshly criticized by the president: “He has not given the level we expected in decisive moments. Too many irregularities and little defensive involvement.”

Ferran Torres Another former Valencia fan who arrived with the star label and who, according to Laporta, “has not assumed the responsibility that wearing this shirt requires.” The president accused him of “lack of hunger” and “not being up to par in the big games.” Ronald Araújo Here came the first big surprise. The captain and pillar of the Uruguayan defense, one of the most valued players on the team, was included in the list.

Laporta justified the decision by alleging “leadership problems in the locker room” and “an obvious drop in performance in the last six months,” especially after the elimination in the Champions League against Bayern and the cup debacle against Atlético.

And the name that no one expected, the one that has generated the greatest commotion among the fans:

Pedri GonzalezThe young man from Tenerife, considered by many the natural heir of Xavi and Iniesta, the player who has most represented the Blaugrana hope in recent years, closes the list. Laporta was blunt: “Pedri is a great footballer, but he has been injured for too long, he has not yet established himself as the leader we need in the midfield and, the most serious thing, it seems that he has lost his ambition. We cannot continue waiting forever for him to be the same as he was in 2020-2021. It hurts to say it, but it has to come out.”

The reaction was immediate. In a matter of minutes, #LaportaDimision and #PedriSeQueda became a global trend on X. Thousands of fans expressed their disbelief and anger, especially at the inclusion of the canary. “Pedri is the soul of Barça, how are they going to fire him?”, “Laporta has lost his mind,” “This is the end of La Masia’s philosophy” were some of the most repeated comments. Others, however, supported the decision: “Finally someone puts things in order. We really have to clean up.”

In the locker room, the news has fallen like a bucket of cold water. Internal sources assure that the atmosphere is tense and that several players have felt indirectly targeted. Hansi Flick, the German coach, has not made public statements yet, but it is known that he was not aware of the magnitude of the purge announced by the president. Flick had asked for reinforcements in defense and attack, but he never imagined that Laporta would opt for such a drastic revolution, including two of his pillars: Araújo and Pedri.

From an economic point of view, the operation would be complex. Dismissing five players with current contracts would imply million-dollar compensation or negotiations for departures in the form of transfers with a token assumed by other clubs. In the case of Pedri, his termination clause is 1,000 million euros, but a realistic sale would be around 80-100 million if a European giant (Manchester City, PSG or Real Madrid) is interested. Araújo could generate a similar amount, while Fati, Raphinha and Ferran would have more limited markets.

Laporta justified his position by remembering the titles won in the 2024/2025 season (League and Super Cup) and the subsequent failures: “We have won things, yes, but we have not dominated as we deserve. We cannot settle for being second or third. We want to be the best team in the world again, and for that we have to make hard decisions. I prefer to be criticized now than to continue seeing the same thing season after season.”

The president also announced that the money obtained from these departures will be invested in “three or four elite signings” for the summer of 2026: a top center back, a creative midfielder, an unbalancing winger and possibly a guaranteed center forward. Names like Julián Álvarez, Nico Williams, Joshua Kimmich (although his age raises doubts) and Dušan Vlahović have been heard strongly in recent hours.

Meanwhile, the fans are divided between the fear of losing their idols and the hope that this “cleanup” is the beginning of a new successful cycle. The next League match against Valencia at Mestalla is presented as a litmus test: will the five mentioned play normally or will they already feel outside the project?

Joan Laporta has opened the canopy of thunder. He has put an expiration date on five careers at Barça and has put his own future in check. If the revolution works, he will be remembered as a brave president. If he fails, it could be his last big move at the head of the club. The Camp Nou, now under construction but always witness to big decisions, awaits answers on the pitch.

The message is clear: Laporta does not plan to give up. And to achieve this, he is willing to fire even someone whom no one expected to touch.