Messi couldn´t stay at Barcelona, we were ´in ruins´ – Laporta

Barcelona president Joan Laporta reiterated preserving Lionel Messi at the membership in 2021 was unimaginable as a result of the membership was “in ruins” financially.

Having come by means of Barca’s academy, Messi’s departure ended a 21-year affiliation and highlighted the seriousness of the membership’s financial points.

Messi’s contract expired at the top of the 2020-21 season, and though he technically turned a free agent, it was extensively assumed Barca would re-sign him to a brand new deal as soon as room was made within the funds.

But Barca – whose money owed were at €1.35billion in August 2021 – had their LaLiga wage cap slashed by €280million forward of the 2021-22 marketing campaign because of their monetary issues.

As such, even with a 50 per cent wage discount reportedly agreed, Barca nonetheless couldn’t afford to signal Messi to a brand new deal, and Spanish employment legislation forbids employers lowering wages past 50 per cent.

“I had to put Barca ahead of the best player in the history of football,” Laporta advised Cadena SER.

“In those moments of financial ruin I couldn’t keep him. I think it was the best thing for the club.”

Leo Messi’s return to the Training Center! pic.twitter.com/ImsS8E0CFC

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 4, 2023

Of course, Messi continues to be linked with a return to Barca along with his Paris Saint-Germain contract set to run out at the top of the season.

Similarly, experiences counsel Messi has already agreed an extension with PSG, the announcement merely delayed by his participation in – and day off after – the World Cup.

Laporta was not wanting to anger PSG – with whom Barca share a frosty relationship – by talking about Messi, although his remorse in regards to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner not having a larger send-off may be interpreted by some as him hinting at a possible second probability.

“I prefer not to talk about Leo because he is a PSG player, as then [if I spoke about him] there are missiles that come from everywhere,” he added. “We are centered on the gamers who’re ours.

“Leo will always be part of our emblem, and I would like him to have a different ending to the one he had.”