Sandro Rosell, new President of FC Barcelona

Barcelona (CNA) .-Sandro Rosell is the new President of FC Barcelona after he was elected by an overwhelming majority of the more than 57,000 club members who voted in this year's elections. Rosell obtained 61.35% of the votes while the other candidates, Agustí Benedito (14.09%), Marc Ingla (12.29%) and Jaume Ferrer (10,80%), were far behind the pre-election favourite who obtained a record figure of 35,021 votes. The result not only represents the end of the mandate of the current president, Joan Laporta, but also rules out any chance of continuing to build on his seven-year project. Laporta has already congratulated the new President in a press conference this Monday afternoon.

Yesterday’s elections went smoothly with a high participation rate that reached 48.11% of the electorate, meaning that 57,088 members went to the polls. Candidates mingled with club members while receiving non-stop media attention. Excitement levels rose when amidst cries of "President, president" coach Josep Guardiola came to cast his vote.

The outgoing president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, congratulated the winner at a press conference. Despite the notorious differences between the former colleagues, Laporta admitted that “he was pleased for Rosell”. The leader of the Club over the last seven years assured the press he will not lead the opposition to the club's new board and explained he was satisfied to leave the club "in the best position in its history”.