Carles Puyol said it a long time ago and yesterday he demonstrated his personality, and when he says something, he follows through. That's where part of his great success comes from. Despite leaks placing him on Joan Laporta's team since last week, the former Barcelona captain will continue with his initial plan, which involves training in various areas related to football, learning languages, and enjoying his family, with whom he spends as much time as possible.

"I have many projects on the table, but I want to take time to make a final and definitive decision on what to do in the coming months," Puyol explained yesterday at Club de Golf Llavaneras (Barcelona), where the X Chap Tournament was held to benefit the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, which he sponsored and awarded the prizes.

"It's true that I have a very good relationship with Joan Laporta. I lived the best years of my football life at Camp Nou, there's no doubt about that. Laporta knows that I am a Barça fan, but the club knows that they can count on me when they need me," continued the retired former footballer, who had dinner in Barcelona on Wednesday night with Iván de la Peña, with whom he has had a great friendship for many years, and with Demetrio Albertini, the former Italian midfielder with whom he shared a brief period at Camp Nou.

And now? With this response, Laporta will have to quickly, well, and effectively make his move. He has two more cards up his sleeve: his idea, as AS explained yesterday, is to convince Eric Abidal and Albert Luque, both with a Barcelona past and supposedly with the approval of Johan Cruyff, one of the cornerstones of Laporta's project.