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As he gears up for his fourth stint as Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta spoke candidly on Saturday about the failure to re-sign Lionel Messi in 2021 — a decision that sparked the current friction between the two and pushed the Argentine icon toward Paris Saint-Germain following 17 years at Barça.
"Regarding what I had to do at that moment—obviously, it wasn't what I would have preferred—but it simply wasn't possible, for financial reasons. In that sense," Laporta told El País in Spanish, referencing the economic strain Messi's renewal would have placed on the club. "I had to make a call, didn't I? These are the trade-offs—the competing factors that come with every decision made—particularly regarding these situations involving Leo."
Messi was ultimately left unable to renew his deal, despite assurances from Laporta, who reportedly promised him an extension on multiple occasions. The broken promises bred bitterness in Messi, who subsequently spent two seasons at PSG before crossing the Atlantic to join David Beckham's Inter Miami in MLS.
Laporta pushed back on the notion that his relationship with Messi is strained — a topic that resurfaced just days earlier when Laporta named Dutch legend Johan Cruyff the greatest player in history, a remark many supporters interpreted as a dig at Messi.
"I would have been absolutely overjoyed to keep Leo," Laporta added. "I've always had a good relationship with him — both during his time at the club when I was president, and even after I stepped down. I would have been thrilled.
"... Not everything has to end on a sour note. I genuinely believe that things end well — as a general rule, they tend to work out fine."
Will Messi Be Immortalized by FC Barcelona?
Laporta is fully committed to rekindling ties with Messi and celebrating the legend's extraordinary legacy at Barcelona — one that includes owning virtually every major record in the club's history. He remains the club's all-time top scorer with 672 official goals, a tally he reached after becoming the youngest player in club history to hit both the 100 and 200 goal milestones, at ages 22 and 24, respectively.
The club intends to unveil a statue at the newly-renovated Camp Nou in Messi's honor at some point in the future, though no specific date has been set.
"Time leads you to reflect on the good moments, and it brings you back to the person," Laporta said. "He belongs to that rare group of generational icons — players who deserve to have a statue built in their honor. It is Kubala; it is Cruyff; it is Leo Messi. And — well — I understand that this is, in part, a tribute match. And then, what happens? It happened with [László] Kubala; it happened with Cruyff; and I believe it will happen with Messi.
"Barça is his home. In other words, the relationship between Barça and Messi — both now and in the future — will unfold exactly as Leo desires and as Barça desires, because a moment will surely come when their paths align once again."
Messi was recently honored at Inter Miami's brand-new venue, Nu Stadium, with the dedication of the Leo Messi Stand — marking what the Herons believe to be the first instance of an active athlete having a stand named after him at his own home ground.