Joan Laporta: I want to bring Lionel Messi back to Barcelona
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reiterated his desire to bring Lionel Messi back to the Camp Nou after he left for PSG last summer.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was forced to depart Barca last summer after the club were financially unable to pen him down to a new contract, a decision that Laporta has since defended.
However, the Barca boss has now emphasised the importance of rekindling the relationship between the Argentine superstar and the Catalan club before he brings the curtain down on his career.
“I did what I had to do in order to put the institution above the best player in our history,” Laporta told CBS Sports.
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“I have known Messi since he was a kid and I love Leo. I feel in moral debt to Messi. He’s the best player in our history and I will do my best in order to ensure he can have the best ending of his career with a Barca shirt on.
“I would like to bring him back. It will not be easy but I think with the correct strategy we could do it. I think Messi has been the most important player in our history.
“During a long period of success he was the leader. He was the one who excited our supporters. We will do our best to have Messi ending his career at Barcelona and being applauded by everyone.”
He added: “The end of Leo at Barcelona was not the best. It was a difficult time. We had to take a decision and put the club above the best player in our history.
“But I think we have to work now to have Messi end his career back wearing the shirt of Barcelona being applauded on every field that he plays. We will do our best to give him the ending he deserves.”
