Joan Laporta has since spoken out in the complete tale of the unhappy exit of Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, stating that their personal relationship is still strained but confirming the club will do justice to the Argentine icon with a massive tribute to him in the refurbished Spotify Camp Nou.
In an interview with Catalunya Radio, the Barcelona president produced his strongest explanation of one of the most emotionally infused events in the modern history of the club – and the subsequent events that still tint the relationship in question by dark to this day.
The Case of Barcelona F.C. why Messi Had to Leave Barcelona in 2021
Laporta was blunt in describing the financial truth that made the club take the necessary action when the contract of Messi was validated in the summer of 2021.
His contract sums, according to Laporta, could not be renewed because they were not affordable.
Barcelona were sinking in debt left by the previous administration, and the financial fair play rules in the form of the salary cap system by the LaLiga left Barcelona with no feasible avenue on which to sign Messi even in case a deal was reached in principle.
One of the major issues is the CVC investment deal that various La Liga clubs took up to increase their finances. Barcelona declined it.
Laporta clarified that the reason why they did not want to sign the CVC deal was to be able to register him as they believed it was not beneficial to the club.
It was impossible because Barca is higher than players, managers, or presidents. That has made me the saddest as president.
It was a harsh yet hard stand – the one that Laporta has been publicly defending, despite the personal price of such a move.
The Ballon d’Or Moment That Shrunk The Gulf.
Although the financial break was difficult enough, Laporta disclosed that something that occurred during the 2023 Ballon d’Or event even stretched the distance between the two men at the personal level.
It is not the relationship with Messi, as it was before, he said. There was another instance during the Ballon d’Or ceremony that I attended to meet him and he did not feel like meeting me.
That communal scene of estrangement was eloquent. Although it has been several years of mutual prosperity, Messi won four champions leagues and ten La Liga titles in his time at the club, the way he left the club left some obvious wounds that are still not properly sealed.
Laporta is not hopeless though. Since that some rapprochement has taken place and hopefully this will be the case in future. His reputation as a legend of Barcelona has been tainted but the relationship is destroyed.
Messi Tribute plans in the New Camp Nou.
It is, perhaps, the most important aspect of the interview with Laporta, who explained in detail how he plans to have Messi a farewell he never got in 2021, when his departure was so unannounced that he could not send him off.
Barcelo plan to give Messi a tribute day, possibly a game, and a permanent sculpture at the newly remodeled Spotify Camp Nou, putting him next to the all-time greats of Johan Cruyff and Ladislao Kubala, who already have statues outside the stadium.
According to Laporta, the time should be coincide with the completion of the major renovation project at Camp Nou, which will have a capacity of more than 105,000 becoming the largest stadium in football in Europe. The magnitude of the event would make the celebration of the Messi legacy very befitting.
To further boost the hope, Laporta said that Messi had recently paid an impromptu visit to Camp Nou one that the president was interpreting as a sign.
Laporta said it was his house and that he should never be refused.
The Biggest Picture: Laporta, Re-election and Messi Legacy.
These remarks enter into a politically delicate time frame of Laporta who is bidding re-election as Barcelona president. The departure of Messi has been cited by rivals as a failure of his reign at Barcelona and thus the topic is not solely a football sentiment matter.
Messi, who currently plays in Inter Miami in MLS, has not identifiably supported any candidate in the election and a second spell as a player in Barcelona is believed to be unrealistic in the current situation due to his current contract.
The only certainty is that the best player in Barcelona’s history and the team that made him is gradually, painstakingly, moving towards a sort of reconciliation on and off the field.
