Player left the club in 2021, amid financial difficulties that made it difficult to renew his contract within LaLiga’s fair play rules
President of , spoke about it again and admitted that the relationship between the Argentine star and the Catalan club was strained after the departure of number 10 in 2021. The director, however, assured that he is looking for a rapprochement and wants to organize a great tribute to the idol who marked his time at the club. “We had a very good relationship with Messi, but when we didn’t renew the contract, that relationship was damaged. We achieved some rapprochement. What we want is to be able to pay him the great tribute he deserves”, he said in an interview with the channel “3Cat”.
Messi left Barcelona after two decades, amid financial difficulties that made it difficult to renew his contract within the club’s fair play rules. The Argentine was moved to tears during his farewell at the Camp Nou and, shortly afterwards, signed with, where he won two French titles, but without repeating the brilliance of his Catalan days.
In 2023, the number 10 decided to start a new chapter of his career in MLS. At 38 years old, he is going through a lighter phase in , with a contract until December (2025) and talks are underway for renewal. Laporta, in turn, is trying to rebuild the bridge with his idol, paving the way for Messi to receive a tribute in Barcelona – a long-standing desire of fans and the board itself.
During the same chat, Laporta also praised the work of the coach, who took charge of Barça in 2024. “It was a big bet. He’s a great coach, a calm person, but very emotional. He’s German, but sensitive to everyone. I feel very comfortable with him”, highlighted the director, confident in the club’s sporting and emotional reconstruction.
Messi, who debuted for the first team in the 2004/05 season, changed Barcelona’s history. In 17 years, he became the top scorer (672 goals), the player with the most appearances (778) and the player who won the most with the Blaugrana shirt (542 wins and 35 titles). No other athlete has had such a lasting or symbolic impact on the club’s modern era.
In addition to domestic records, Messi is also the top scorer in LaLiga history, with 474 goals, and the athlete who finished as the championship’s top scorer the most times, in eight seasons.
Messi should be on the field this Tuesday for the Argentine national team in the friendly against Puerto Rico, at 9pm (Brasília time), at Lockhart Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale, for .
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Nátaly Tenório
