Lionel Messi’s 2021 departure from Barcelona continues to divide opinion inside the Catalan membership. This week, Joan Laporta—the president who oversaw Messi’s emotional exit—sparked recent controversy after making a bombshell seven-word confession about that painful chapter, one which has reignited inner tensions and provoked calls for from inside the membership’s board for “the true purpose” behind the Argentine’s departure.
Messi’s abrupt exit from the Camp Nou in August 2021 marked the tip of a 21-year period. The Argentine legend, who joined the membership as a 13-year-old prodigy, left in tears as monetary chaos compelled the Blaugrana to launch him. What was presupposed to be a farewell match for the best participant within the membership’s historical past changed into a devastating goodbye delivered in entrance of cameras, not followers.
In a latest lengthy interview with Catalunya Radio, Laporta addressed the famous person’s exit instantly, providing what he described as closure—and what others noticed as indifference. “Regardless of how the whole lot occurred with Leo Messi’s departure, I’ve no regrets,” the president stated. He went on to ship his now notorious seven-word confession, stating: “No regrets. Barca is above anybody else.”
That sentence has since sparked debate throughout Spain and inside the membership itself. Laporta justified his stance by emphasizing the necessity to shield the establishment above all people. “It’s not what all of us needed, however it was not potential at that second,” he added, reiterating that the monetary restrictions imposed by LaLiga made Messi’s renewal “unattainable.” But, for a lot of followers and former executives, the phrase sounded extra like an excuse than an evidence.
Barcelona President Joan Laporta and Lionel Messi
The fallout: ‘Inform us the true purpose’
Former Barcelona board member Xavier Vilajoana overtly criticized Laporta after the remarks, claiming the president has by no means been clear about why Messi was actually allowed to depart. In feedback printed by Mundo Deportivo, Vilajoana stated, “If the argument was financial, I don’t see it wherever now. I’ll finish with a query: let Laporta inform us the true purpose why Messi was let go.”
Vilajoana additionally accused the Spanish businessman of “hiding figures” and deceptive followers concerning the membership’s monetary scenario, claiming, “They’ve been mendacity and hiding the figures for 4 years. Barca is a severe membership and may set an instance.”
His feedback got here amid rising discontent inside the membership group, with many socios demanding extra transparency from Laporta’s administration concerning the membership’s spiraling debt and the controversial sale of belongings used to finance participant signings.
What’s Messi’s aspect of the story?
Messi, now with Inter Miami, has repeatedly stated that he needed to stay in Barcelona and was even keen to take a drastic pay reduce to take action. Chatting with Sport, he defined in 2021, “By no means at any second did they ask me to play without spending a dime. They requested me to scale back my wage by 50% and I did it with none drawback. We had been keen to assist the membership extra.”
Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona seems to be dejected through the Copa del Rey semi-final.
The Argentine admitted feeling harm by Laporta’s public feedback on the time. “It’s like taking the ball from you and never accepting the duty or taking cost of issues. That makes folks suppose and generates doubts that I don’t suppose I deserve,” Messi stated.
These wounds stay unhealed. Former Barca vice-president Jordi Mestre advised the Sports360 Podcast that the 38-year-old ahead and his household are “very, very offended” with Laporta, including, “That discuss fixing issues over a barbecue — we’ve seen how that turned out: nothing.”
