Barcelona President Reveals Secret Talks With Messi's Family to Honor Legend at Camp Nou
Barcelona's president Joan Laporta has disclosed that discussions have already taken place with Lionel Messi's relatives regarding the legendary player's presence at the future reopening ceremony of Camp Nou.
No specific timeline has been established for Barcelona's return to Camp Nou, which remains under construction, with the club having already conceded that next month's Joan Gamper Trophy cannot be held at the iconic venue.
To allow additional time for municipal approval, Barcelona requested UEFA to schedule their opening Champions League match of the season—expected in mid-September—as an away fixture. The team's initial three La Liga encounters are already confirmed to be played away from home.
Regardless of when Camp Nou can actually reopen—complete construction isn't anticipated until next summer at the soonest—Barcelona desires Lionel Messi's presence to celebrate his significant contribution to the club's illustrious legacy.
"We have consistently stated that inaugurating the new Spotify Camp Nou with a homage to Leo Messi would be perfect," Laporta shared with Mundo Deportivo.
"I'm confident the message has reached his relatives, and discussions have already occurred. We would be thrilled. It's up to Leo and his family. I'm hopeful it will happen. It would be truly remarkable."
When addressing the specific timing of Barcelona's eventual return to Camp Nou following two seasons at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuïc, Laporta simply wishes it could be "as quickly as possible".
The essential "initial occupancy license" remains outstanding.
"I believe solutions will always emerge," the president stated in the same discussion. "We're primarily focused on returning to Spotify Camp Nou. Alternative options exist, but these are backup plans we're not currently contemplating. Our attention is on getting back to Spotify Camp Nou.
"We're not entertaining the prospect of not returning. All financial projections we've prepared for the upcoming season and every obligation under our financing agreement assumes our return to Spotify Camp Nou. We'd need to restructure everything. We're accustomed to navigating complex challenges, but we remain optimistic that circumstances will improve when the moment arrives."