How did the split between Barca and Leo Messi really go? Barcelona’s president suggests that La Pulga has been in contact with PSG for a long time.
President Joan Laporta from the Spanish top club FC Barcelona said goodbye to superstar Lionel Messi in the summer. He moved to PSG on a free transfer after failing to agree to an extension of his contract with the financially stricken Blaugrana. Laporta now announced that Messi had had an offer from Paris for some time. Still, he hoped the six-time world footballer would play for Barca for free.
Laporta led the conversation with RAC1 from how he saw the end of the failed negotiations with Messi in early August: “At the very last minute I had hope that Messi would say he was playing for us for free. I would have liked that and that would have convinced me. I also think the league would have accepts it. However, you can’t really ask that of a player of his caliber either. “
Lionel Messi joined PSG from FC Barcelona
Background: Barcelona had to save massive salary costs in the last transfer period because the club was well above the upper limit of the Spanish league. Laporta stressed that he has no regrets and only thinks of “doing what is best for Barca”. One should “not jeopardize the institution.”
The club boss also believes that Messi’s quick departure from PSG was not that surprising: “Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG at that point. Everyone knew it. (…) We knew from Messi that there was a very good offer. “
Laporta said: “I’m not angry with Messi, I like him. I know he wanted to stay, but at the same time he was under a lot of pressure.”
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
