Highlights:
- Lionel Messi is not happy at Barcelona, and he even asked to be transferred earlier this year
- FC Barcelona’s presidential candidate Joan Laporta acknowledge saying “Messi has been cheated”
- Laporta says he will aim at restoring “joy” for Messi at Camp Nou
The presidential candidate for Football Club (FC) Barcelona has been very vocal about his intention to make sure that the Blaugrana icon continues to ply his trade in Catalunya.
The future of Lionel Messi, he 33 year old Argentinean superstar, remains a prominent topic at an embattled giant of Spanish league La Liga, Barcelona, after he handed a transfer request following a tumultuous 2019-20 season.
The 6 time Ballon d’Or winner, highest by any player in the world, was tipped to join the English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City before he opted to stay back in Spain, however, he has since been linked to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Italian powerhouse Football Club Internazionale Milano or more commonly known as Inter Milan.
The interim President of FC Barcelona, Carlos Tusquets said that the club should have sold Messi in the last transfer window due to the economic fallout which was caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
However, Joan Laporta, who is in the running for the position of the President at FC Barcelona, which takes place on January 24 following Josep Maria Bartomeu’s resignation in October, talked up Messi.
Talking to Radio Marca and COPE, Former president Laporta said, “Leo wants Barcelona,” – at the helm of Barca from 2003 to 2010 as Messi’s career took off.
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Laporta added, “What I want is to give him back his happiness. It’s not just a question of money, you have to create a competitive team.
The 58 year old former FC Barcelona President, Laporta, also said, “Leo has been cheated and that is a big loss. He’s a winner and can’t stand to see other teams lift the Champions League.
“The last time I spoke to him was in October. I am very grateful to him for all he has done for Barcelona. I have known him since he was 16 years old and he is an extraordinary person.”
Laporta also said, “There is mutual appreciation and respect. We must be inside [the club] to make an imaginative and credible proposal to him.”
In this season, so far Messi has managed to score 4 goals after appearing in 9 matches for the Catalan, while across all the competitions, he has scored 7 goals.
Laporta said, “Leo wants to have a squad that brings back the joy”.
“A team like Barcelona needs team spirit in a dressing room. I’ve been president of Barcelona and I don’t want to destabilise a team in a delicate situation.”
After losing the league title against their rivals Real Madrid and also facing a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League, Barca is currently settled at seventh in La Liga and 10 points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad.
On Sunday, Barcelona will travel to Cadiz to play against the club with the same name at the Ramon de Carranza stadium.
