Lionel Messi shocked the entire world when he submitted a transfer request in the summer. He wanted to terminate his contract and leave for free. But former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu declined to accept Messi’s request.
The Argentine didn’t want the matters to get into court so decided to stay for the remainder of his contract which expires in the summer of 2021. As we’re heading close to 1st January 2021, Messi will be free to talk to any club and sign a pre-contract offer.
Barcelona themselves are in a tumultuous situation. They have postponed the January payment of the players. Interim president Carles Tusquets was also quoted as saying, selling Messi can solve Barcelona’s financial problem rather than forcing him to stay at the club.
Joan Laporta, former Barcelona president and once again a candidate for the presidential election which will be held at 24th January 2021, has now explained in an interview to Sport how he can convince Messi to stay at the club.
Here’s the excerpts of the conversation:
Are you in favor of Messi staying?
That’s right, and you could argue many reasons for it.
Explain yourself …
I prefer to think about what Leo generates, which is a lot, more than what his salary may cost. And I’m not just talking at a sports level, which as is well known I consider him the best footballer in history. Leo is much more.
Therefore, you believe that Messi deserves what he earns.
Evidently. In my opinion, all players, when they win many titles and generate so much, deserve to be valued. At least that’s how I tried to make it happen in my time as president. And Leo, I repeat, is the best player in the world and possibly in the history of football. What you have to keep in mind is that Leo loves Barça, and has shown it repeatedly. He is a club man and is comfortable at Barça and in the city. Therefore, this is another factor that leads us to think that it is best to work for the Messi-Barça relationship to continue.
How do you intend to achieve it?
You have to be imaginative. Knowing that Messi is not guided by money, and I assure you that he is not guided by money, we must make a proposal that can convince Leo that Barça is going to have a competitive team capable of winning the Champions League again. This is essential, what will be most valuable to Leo when deciding his future at the end of the season. I’m convinced.
Will you propose it?
Leo and I have a relationship of mutual affection. He knows that whenever I have made him a proposal, it has been fulfilled. Leo knows it, he has told me personally and he values it very much. I think Messi should finish his career at Barça.
So, do you think Leo’s continuity depends on what happens at the polls?
The truth is that I don’t even want to think about seeing Messi out of the club. What I do need is to have the authority, from the Barça presidency, to know first-hand the situation of the club and see what proposal I can make. And most importantly, that you can meet. From there, I will make every effort to convince Leo. Naturally it is necessary for Leo to wait to find out who the new president of Barça is and receive a proposal.
Lionel Messi has enjoyed a successful spell at the club in Joan Laporta’s last reign as Barcelona president. This track record may help Laporta to convince Messi to stay at the Camp Nou.
