Joan Laporta referred to Messi's departure from Barcelona again: 'I had to make a decision and I think I was right'

Almost five years after the departure of Lionel Messi, the president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, once again referred to one of the most sensitive moments in his management and defended the decision not to renew the Argentine captain's contract

in 2021.

The leader, recently re-elected and with a term of office until 2030, argued that the club's economic context forced a drastic measure to be taken that marked the beginning of a new phase: “I had to make a decision and I think I was right, I refer to the results. We were able to recover the club's economy, we made a competitive team and it was time for generational replacement.

”

Laporta explained that, beyond the intention of retaining Rosario, financial restrictions made him unfeasible: “Leo was at the end of his career and a new team needed to be built. Would I have liked to make a new team with Leo helping? Yes That was tried but it couldn't be.”

On the other hand, Laporta left open the possibility of a future bond with the idol: "The future relationship will be as Leo wants and as Barça wants.

At some point, interests will come together again.” “He is a generational reference player with Laszlo Kubala and Johan Cruyff, he must have his statue and his tribute match,” he added. It should be noted that Laporta recently assured that Cruyff is the best soccer player in history, ahead of

Rosario himself.

However, his return as a soccer player seems far away. Messi currently has a contract with Inter Miami until 2028, when he will be over 40 years old, and the relationship with the current management is not going through its best moment.