FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has responded to a sensational attack from Lionel Messi’s brother Matias, but hasn’t closed the door for the player to make his return to the club this summer.
Messi is a free agent on June 30 when his two-year deal at Paris Saint Germain expires. Taking part in a Twitch broadcast made public on Wednesday, however, Matias Messi scoffed at the prospect of Messi returning to the club he left in tears in the summer of 2021.
Even if the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner were to don Blaugrana again, Matias Messi stressed that the first port of call would be to ‘throw out’ Laporta.
In a press conference held just past midday on Thursday afternoon in Barcelona, Laporta addressed the row after naturally being asked about it.
“Leo Messi is Barca’s patrimony and we are proud of it, [he is] the best in the world and in history. Don’t make me talk about Messi, he belongs to PSG and I don’t want to comment on footballers who are at another club,” Laporta demanded.
“I take away all the importance of the thing with his brother and he has apologized. Everything he has said is understandable and I don’t think about it anymore,” Laporta added.
When asked again, Laporta reiterated his stance but also said that Matias’ outburst “does not affect at all the relation” between Messi and FC Barcelona.
This effectively sees Laporta not ruling out a potential return for Messi, which SPORT had claimed hours before was “complicated” due to Matias’ words being badly received at the club and opening a wound “that may take time to heal”.
Possessing more of an impact than words are the numbers, with Barca currently forced to shave €200mn ($214mn) from the wage bill ahead of next season according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.
In the same speech where he slammed the league for putting obstacles in Barca’s way, though, Laporta claimed to have already eliminated €100mn ($107mn) with another €70mn ($75mn) spoken for by the summer.
Player sales could perhaps take care of the remaining €30mn ($32.2mn), yet recent reports seem to put Messi closer to saying ‘oui’ to PSG and renewing there than giving Barcelona a ‘si’ and ending his European career at Camp Nou.
Source: www.forbes.com
