Lionel Messi’s grandtale with FC Barcelona is far from over as President Joan Laporta opens the door for the 35-year-old Argentine, who spent most of his football career at the Camp Nou. The news of Messi’s emotional departure and Catalan departure came as a shock to the entire world as he attended last summer after his tearful speech at the iconic stadium in Paris Saint-Germain. (Lionel Messi scored his first pre-season goal for PSG – WATCH)
The club he played for when he was just 12 years old could not be offered a new contract due to financial conditions and La Liga’s strict salary limits last summer. As a result, Little Wizard had to part with Barca when his contract expired on June 30, 2021. (Cristiano Ronaldo trolled by Russian club amid Manchester United transfer saga)
Obviously, Barcelona did not want to let the seven-time Ballon d’Or holder go, but they had to accept the reality and allow Messi to sign a two-year deal with French club PSG.
Even after winning Ligue 1 with PSG in his first season, Messi’s struggle in France is something one cannot ignore. He himself is finding ways to return to the place he has played for over 15 years and his form has taken a major hit. While PSG are set to sign the left-legged wizard with an extension contract, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has opened the door for him.
Barcelona president Laporta told @carodelas On ESPN: “I think, hopefully, the story of Leo Messi with Barcelona isn’t over yet. It’s still open, it’s our responsibility to make sure it has a more beautiful ending than ever.” #FCB
“As Barca president, I feel indebted to Messi”. pic.twitter.com/ozPHsuGhod— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 24 July 2022
“I think, hopefully with Leo Messi story barcelona is not over yet. It’s still open, it’s our responsibility to make sure its ending is more beautiful than ever. As president of Barca, I feel indebted to Messi,” Laporta told ESPN.
Xavi: “Leo Messi is the best player in history and the doors will always be open for him here at Barca”. #FCB
“He deserves a huge tribute – and I can’t say more because he has a contract with Paris Saint-Germain”, he said. pic.twitter.com/CTApHvDHul
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 19, 2022
Notably, it all happened under Laporta’s supervision when Lionel Messi left the club and his departure brought a day of gloom throughout the city of Barcelona. “As president of Barca, I think I did what I had to do. But on a personal level and as president, I feel indebted to them,” Laporta concluded. (Lionel Messi ‘reason’ Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Manchester United, read here)
Notably, Messi was nowhere near his ‘extraordinary’ level last season with PSG as Real Madrid knocked him out of the UEFA Champions League and he could only score 6 goals in 27 appearances for PSG in Ligue 1 . Last season was Messi’s worst season in the last 10 years. Not to be forgotten, he is the person with the highest number of Ballons d’Ors.