Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has explained why he supported not signing Manchester City defender Eric Garcia in January.

The candidates were asked if the club should sign Garcia, and while Victor Font wanted to, Laporta did not.

"It's to do with coherence across all ambits," said Laporta. “Economic, statuary and sporting. The coach has to look for solutions in the situations he comes across.

"We also have to take into account the message sent to La Masia. We can't show kids they can leave for free at 16 years old and return when they want and pay for them when they go for free.

"It's opportunist to say that the defeat by Sevilla wouldn't have happened if we had Eric. Barca games we win and we lose together."