Catalan pharmaceutical company Grifols is reportedly the organization that is "currently best-placed to give a last name" to Barcelona's Camp Nou and "attach its name to the lavish Espai Barça project," according to Juan Jiménez of AS. A "little over a year ago," it was reported that the company was in talks to sponsor the stadium, but Grifols denied it was interested. At that time, Catalunya Ràdio claimed that Barcelona would receive €400M ($451M) over 30 years from Grifols (AS, 11/26). SPORT reported it is believed the talks between Grifols and Barcelona "have been renewed in secret," and, while "there are important details to resolve, both parties are optimistic about the possibility" of a deal by the end of '18. Grifols reached an agreement in August to take control of Spanish Basketball League (ACB) side Joventut de Badalona, which will "allow the club to survive its difficult economic situation" (SPORT, 11/27).
BACK IN THE PICTURE: The EFE reported former Barcelona President Joan Laporta, who led the club from '03-10, revealed that he "plans to return to the ballot box in the next club elections," planned for '21. Barça won two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles with Laporta as president (EFE, 11/27).
