Joan Laporta’s first yr as FC Barcelona president in his second tenure in 2021 coincided with Lionel Messi’s abrupt departure from the membership attributable to monetary constraints and points with the star’s contract renewal. A number of years after that momentous occasion, the membership president opened up about his relationship with Messi and a possible tribute to the Barca legend.
With Barcelona going through monetary difficulties below former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the 2021 elections marked the primary time Messi reportedly forged a vote. Whereas he by no means made it public, Laporta’s closeness with the Messi household reportedly performed a big function in his election. Nonetheless, after assuming workplace in March, Messi departed as Barcelona had been unable to resolve his contract state of affairs, straining the connection between the star and the president.
In an interview with outlet 3Cat, Laporta mirrored on his relationship with the Argentine star years after the occasion: “Messi and I’ve had an excellent relationship. Once we didn’t renew his contract, it soured, however since then we’ve kind of recovered it a bit. What we hope is that he can obtain the nice tribute he deserves.”
Since Messi’s sudden transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentine has not returned to FC Barcelona, signaling a transparent distance from the membership’s president. Now, Laporta says the connection with the membership legend has improved, and he’s keen to prepare the long-awaited tribute.
New FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta and Lionel Messi.
How will Barcelona honor Messi?
Messi has spent the vast majority of his skilled and private life in Barcelona, forging a permanent bond with the Catalan metropolis — one thing he has referenced a number of occasions since leaving the membership. Laporta is now centered on strengthening his relationship with the Argentine star by way of a particular tribute, which may happen within the coming months.
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Initially of the 2025-26 season, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Laporta mentioned the plan for Messi’s tribute: “Again then, all through the ultimate stage of Leo’s time at Barca, we at all times stated it: Essentially the most lovely factor could be to inaugurate the brand new Spotify Camp Nou with a tribute to Leo Messi. It’s one thing we’d be completely delighted about, however in fact, it additionally will depend on Leo and his household. I hope it occurs. It will be actually lovely.”
Nonetheless, the inauguration of the revamped Spotify Camp Nou has confronted repeated delays over the previous months, from the Joan Gamper Trophy to the current day. In accordance with Diario Sport, stadium technicians are actually focusing on a November twenty third weekend opening, coinciding with Barcelona’s residence sport towards Athletic Bilbao, a date that would lastly host the long-anticipated tribute to Lionel Messi.
