TODAY is the traditional “day of reflection” on the eve of tomorrow’s Barcelona presidential election and there will be much to reflect on after a poll yesterday gave Joan Laporta, who says that he will sign David Beckham, a one-point lead over Lluís Bassat, his nearest rival.

Laporta has come from 25 points behind in what is effectively a two-horse race, despite the showmanship of third-placed Jaume Llauradó, who has only 4.6 per cent of the vote, according to the poll.

Bassat, whose campaign has been eclipsed by Beckham mania and is the one candidate who has not tried to woo the fans with promises of big signings, says that he can bring in Ronald Koeman as coach. The former Holland international, who scored the goal that brought Barcelona their only European Cup, is managing Ajax and Barcelona would have to pay £1 million to buy out his contract.

Laporta has now won the support of José María Bakero, who captained the so-called “dream team” in the 1990s. Johan Cruyff, the coach of that side, is known to be close to Laporta but as yet has offered only guarded support. At a press conference yesterday, Laporta revealed that if he wins, a local bank will extend his presidency £15 million in credit, which is what they estimate his backers are worth.

With no time left to campaign and 21 per cent of those polled undecided, the result is in the lap of the don’t knows.

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