New information has appeared in a book evoking the end of Lionel Messi’s career at FC Barcelona. The Argentinian currently at PSG was taken for a walk by Joan Laporta, and still resents him a lot.
The publication of a behind-the-scenes book on the careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has highlighted the incredible episode of the Argentinian’s departure from FC Barcelona. Many rumors are confirmed on how La Pulga finally left his lifelong club, when he was still thinking of extending a few days earlier. Indeed, the number 10 of the Catalan club was certain that his contract extension was only a formality. But the economic difficulties made any renewal impossible, and totally surprised the player now at the PSG. Indeed, Joan Laporta was very firm, not even opening the door to discussions, indicating that it was the end and that Lionel Messi had to find a new club in the summer of 2021.
The disturbing attitude of Laporta
And yet, Wall Street Journal reporters Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson, who co-wrote this book on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, claim that the newly elected FC Barcelona president had been offered to finance the extension of Lionel Messi contract. But he turned down this opportunity. Seeing that one more mega-star was going to leave La Liga, Javier Tebas proposed to Laporta to finance the salary of the sevenfold Ballon d’Or by agreeing to sell part of “La Liga” to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners. A deal that would have made it possible to reap immediate benefits, and would have brought Lionel Messi’s contract extension into the necessary financial framework.
But the president of FC Barcelona rejected this opportunity, explaining that he did not want to take the risk of going against the economic interests of his club by selling part of La Liga. Ironically, as soon as Lionel Messi left, the Catalan club recovered economically, in particular by selling part of its assets in the form of economic “levers” to investment funds over more than 25 years. A process very close to what Javier Tebas proposed, and which made it possible to recruit players like Jules Koundé, Robert Lewandowski or Raphinha.
This double talk from the Blaugrana leaders also explains why Lionel Messi is not necessarily delighted to see his name used by Barça in recent weeks. Obviously, the pill is still not digested, and despite his support given to Joan Laporta at the start of his term, the Argentinian from PSG did not like the way he was treated at all, and does not see himself return to a club that pushed him out without even offering a solution to keep him. To then spend lavishly on recruiting and salaries as soon as he crossed the threshold of the door.
