Lionel Messi brought up again in FC Barcelona presidential debate as Joan Laporta outlines plans for club legend

Lionel Messi has repeatedly spoken about returning to Barcelona someday as certainly one of his largest private objectives, and after his abrupt departure in 2021, Blaugrana followers by no means had the possibility to correctly say goodbye to the membership’s best legend. With presidential elections approaching at Barcelona, Joan Laporta has now outlined his plans for the Argentine icon.

Laporta submitted his resignation as Barcelona president on February 9, a step taken so he may formally run for reelection. Voting for the Spanish big’s subsequent president is scheduled for March 15, and with campaigning underway, Messi’s title has as soon as once more develop into a significant speaking level throughout the town.

Throughout a marketing campaign presentation in Girona, Laporta fielded questions from membership members and supporters. Alongside inquiries in regards to the pillars of his platform, the candidate was requested what he would do concerning Messi if reelected, and he reiterated his acquainted stance.

“Like (Ladislao) Kubala and (Johan) Cruyff, I believe Messi deserves a statue, and we also needs to organize a tribute match that we’re open to organizing at any time when they need—one thing that might be stunning to see for all the things he’s given to Barça, and I additionally need to say that Barça has given him so much,” he mentioned, once more elevating the thought of honoring the Argentine legend.

Though Laporta acknowledged that his relationship with Messi cooled after the departure, he expressed hope {that a} reunion may ultimately occur. “I believe the statue and the tribute are what he deserves. He has a present contract the place he’s and it runs till 2028. I believe that might be best,” he added, successfully ruling out a short-term return as a participant.

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Messi, a focus in Barcelona elections

Laporta turned the determine tasked with main Barcelona out of disaster after the period of Josep Maria Bartomeu in 2021, when the membership was mired in extreme monetary bother that also hasn’t totally cleared. These financial points in the end led to Messi’s departure regardless of their beforehand shut relationship, they usually additionally prevented a comeback when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired in 2023.

Chatting with La2Cat in December 2025, Laporta admitted he nonetheless regrets not having the ability to hold Messi on the membership. “It’s a problem that saddens me. Leo has given so much to Barça and Barça to Leo. I hope we meet once more,” he mentioned, whereas stressing he had no regrets about his resolution as a result of “above all the things is the establishment.”

Nonetheless, rival candidates have tried to capitalize on Laporta’s strained relationship with Messi by making the Argentine central to their very own campaigns. Some of the vocal has been Víctor Font, who criticized Laporta over the fractured bond whereas additionally questioning his perceived closeness to Actual Madrid, one thing he referred to as “unforgivable.”

In a public look in late January, Font outlined certainly one of his proposals involving Messi: “What I’ll do first if I win will probably be to name Leo Messi. I’ve a technique to attain him, immediately or not directly. Rebuilding bridges with absolutely the legends of this membership is an absolute precedence. Messi is our historical past. We’ll clarify our plan to him as soon as we’ve received the election. He has to have the position he deserves.“