SPECIAL REPORT: The club's former president is yet to formally announce his challenge but has ensured he has the necessary finances in place to do so

By Pilar Suarez

Joan Laporta has stepped up his bid to become Barcelona president ahead of the summer election after securing the €76 million financial guarantee needed to run for the position.

The Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP), responsible for administering the two professional football leagues in Spain, requires a 15 per cent guarantee of a club's expenditure from candidates before they are allowed to launch a bid, amounting to €76m at Barcelona.

Laporta has yet to publicly confirm that he will run for the position, but has already gathered the financial support necessary to do so and is expected to formally announcy his candidacy in the weeks leading up to the election, granting himself the time to put together a team around him and gain as much monetary support as possible to back his bid.

The 52-year-old previously led Barca to 12 titles in his first mandate between 2003 and 2010. He hired current Bayern Munich boss Guardiola as first-team coach in 2008 as the club embarked on the most successful spell in their history.

He initially aimed to return to Camp Nou in 2016, but has brought forward his bid after reigning president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced a summer election during a press conference in January.

Bartomeu has been in charge at Barcelona ever since Sandro Rosell was forced to step down in the wake of the controversy surrounding the transfer of Neymar from Santos.

Laporta faces competition from Bartomeu, Agusti Benedito and Jordi Farre in the race to become Barcelona president, with all three already publicly confirming their candidacy.