Farewell to Enric Reyna, the 82-day president who dreamed of a Barça to be proud of

This Friday, the world of barcelonismo lost one of its own. Enric Reyna, who served as president of FC Barcelona during the interim period between the resignation of Joan Gaspart and the arrival of Joan Laporta, has passed away at the age of 85. He wasn't a president associated with great sporting feats or football titles, but in the memory of die-hard culés, he will always hold a special place for that difficult transitional period and for some envelopes that became the stuff of legend.

The 82-day president at the helm during the storm

The year was 2003. Gaspart's Barça was in dire straits, and the club needed a temporary helmsman to steady the ship until elections could be held. That's where Enric Reyna came in. A Barcelona property developer and club member since 1965, he assumed the presidency on 12th February of that year. It was only for 82 days, but they were intense. He had to grapple with a financial crisis that was strangling the club and a football team that couldn't buy a win. However, it wasn't all bad news: during his brief stewardship, the club's professional sections secured three trophies—the Copa del Rey in basketball and roller hockey, and the EHF Cup in handball—something he always championed as proof that the club was more than just a sport.

The mystery of the 'Reyna envelopes'

If there's one thing that turned Enric Reyna into something of a cult figure for the fans, it was the famous 'envelopes' he deposited at the club just before he left. In them, this builder with a keen business sense laid out his plan to lift Barça out of its financial mire. The first envelope contained a series of player swaps designed to generate capital gains of €50 million: names like Rochemback, Overmars, and Motta were proposed as makeweights to bring in players like Mendieta, Conceicao, or José Mari. The second envelope included technical reports on some land (Can Rigalt) and property offers. Laporta's incoming board didn't take them up on it, but the legend of the 'Reyna envelopes' has endured as a symbol of a man who, in his own words, dreamed of "a Barça that members, fans, employees, players, and directors can be proud of, both for the colours and for the way things are done."

Beyond the Camp Nou: the legacy of a man who helped build Catalonia

Away from football, Enric Reyna was a major figure in the construction and property development sector in Catalonia. Those who shared professional projects with him remember him at the helm of his construction company Amrey and for his 35-year stint as president of the Association of Promoters of Barcelona (APCE), leaving his mark on the city's urban development. He presided over Fira de Barcelona and the Construmat trade fair, and just a few months ago, the College of Technical Architecture of Barcelona awarded him their Special Prize for Professional Career. A lifetime achievement award for a career dedicated to, quite literally, building the landscape we walk on today.

Those who knew him highlight his low profile, his love for Barça, and his commitment to institutions. So, when news of his death was confirmed this Friday, the sorrow wasn't confined to Can Barça. From their eternal rivals, Real Madrid, a statement was issued expressing their condolences to his family and to barcelonismo—a gesture that ultimately underscores the respect Enric Reyna commanded throughout his life.

• 1940: Born in Barcelona.
• 1965: Becomes a member (socio) of FC Barcelona.
• 2000: Joins the Joan Gaspart board of directors.
• 2003 (February-May): Presides over FC Barcelona for 82 days.
• 2026 (March): Passes away at the age of 85.

The wake will be held this Saturday at the Les Corts funeral home, just a stone's throw from the Spotify Camp Nou, with the funeral service taking place there on Sunday. Those attending will include people from the neighbourhood, friends from the construction industry, directors from different eras, and the ordinary club members who remember that transitional president who, between one envelope and the next, only ever wanted what was best for his club. Rest in peace, Enric Reyna.