Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed his desire for former Argentinean international star Lionel Messi to end his career “in a Barcelona jersey”, according to statements released by Spanish newspapers on Friday.
And the Catalan club’s president explained that it was just a wish and that “nothing was discussed” in his response on Thursday in New York to a Spanish media report last week that Barcelona coach Javi Hernández had asked the club’s management to look into a return. Argentine in the ranks of the Blaugrana.
Laporta explained that “Messi’s move to Barcelona has not ended as we all hoped,” referring in part to the “economic reasons” that led to his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after 16 years in Spain. .
He added: “I think Barcelona owes a moral debt to Leo Messi. We would like to end his career in a Barcelona shirt and applaud him in all stadiums and wherever he has been.”
“I was also responsible for this final. Temporary ending because I think we will make this wish come true,” he said.
Messi, 35, who joined Paris Saint-Germain a year ago after leaving Barcelona, has lamented a difficult first season in Paris, scoring 11 goals in 34 games, a far cry from his usual standards at the Catalan club. He had one year left on his contract with the Parisian club with an extra year.
Source: AFP