Vilajoana: "I dream of the Champions League... with 11 La Masia players"

SPORT interviewed Xavi Vilajoana, one of the candidates to be Barcelona's next president. In recent years, he has been responsible for La Masia, Barça B and the women's team on Josep Maria Bartomeu's board. 

Now he wants to go it alone. Here's a section of his interview: 

Do you think an effort should be made to bring Neymar back?

What I think is that the first team should have a base of players formed in La Masia and complemented by the best in the world, or some of them, that can add to the collective play. From there, Barça always must be prepared economically to sign and to pay to sign the best. And, occasionally, other signings that can perform, but always with the academy base. 

Is Barça's wage bill unsustainable?

Yes. Because it's not coherent with sporting performance. And more so when players reach a certain age. It should be the reverse, the wages should depend on performance, not performances needed to find the momney. With players from the academy, things would be under better control.  

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So you would cut the wage bill?

Yes. From a certain age, renewals must be linked to individual and team performances. If not, we have performances dipping as wages go up. It's something the club can't allow.

Would you like Messi to stay with the club after he retires?

Yes, all of the club's icons and Leo is the biggest in our history. He has to be important for Barça, as long as he wants to.

Do you dream of winning the Champions League as president?

Of course. It's the trophy I've not been up close with, but I dream of winning it like that game against Levante, with 11 players from La Masia. I am convinced I can give 11 names of players in La Masia that can consolidate themselves in the first team in three or four years.