Messi and the feeling of being betrayed.

Barcelona club members will be going to the polls again next year. No specific date has been set, but Joan Laporta appears to have already begun his campaign, albeit in an attempt to appear indifferent .

“I’m not thinking about elections right now; the season has only just begun, and Barca is in a fierce battle. I will call elections at the most opportune time for the club . Right now, I just want to live life intensely. I have a life full of rock & roll , ” he emphasized in an interview with Catalunya Radio .

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Messi's return to Camp Nou wasn't simply a visit. Photo: X/LeoMessi

During the interview, Laporta couldn't avoid questions about Lionel Messi 's surprise visit to Camp Nou and the Argentine superstar's cryptic social media post .

"I want to say goodbye as a player, in a way that I never had the chance to do..." , Messi shared .

Laporta calmly stated , "With everything that has happened, I have no regrets ." The tumultuous parting took place on August 10, 2021 , just months after he returned to the presidency .

Laporta's second stint at Barcelona was built largely on Messi's image. The captain had lost all faith in Josep Maria Bartomeu's leadership .

He even requested to leave in the summer of 2020 by sending the famous fax . Laporta's campaign has since rekindled his hope.

Laporta knew how to capitalize on it: during the election campaign, he hugged a mannequin wearing the number 10 shirt and promised to keep Messi with just "an asado barbecue party." (cultural characteristics of Argentina and some South American countries - PV) ” .

For his part, Messi participated in the club president election for the first time. He didn't specify which candidate he supported, but everyone understood.

Up until that point, the relationship between Laporta and Messi had remained familiar. The problem only arose when Leo felt betrayed .

Two days before signing the agreed-upon new contract, Laporta called Jorge Messi – his father and agent – ​​to inform him that an extension was impossible.

“Things didn’t go the way we wanted; that’s just how it is. With everything that has happened, I have no regrets , ” Laporta simply repeated.

This isn't the first time Laporta has spoken about Messi since the summer of 2021, but it's the first time he's been so decisive.

Laporta's Challenge

The upcoming election has the potential to become a "Laporta vs. Messi" scenario, much like the old " Nun ez vs. Johan Cruyff" situation.

“ Barca is above everyone and everything. If somehow the tribute can mend what wasn’t done right, then that would be great. But speculating about Messi’s return to playing is inappropriate , ” he explained.

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Laporta declares he has no regrets about letting Messi leave Barca. Photo: EFE

A new electoral chess game began on Sunday evening, when Messi made a surprise appearance at Camp Nou, then publicly challenged Laporta on Monday morning .

Messi wrote on Instagram : “Last night, I returned to a place I will always remember with all my heart. A place where I was infinitely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest man in the world . I hope that one day I can return, not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do…”

Laporta replied : “I didn’t know he would be coming, but Camp Nou is his home . When I was told about it, I thought it was just a sweet, spontaneous gesture: he had finished dinner and wanted to drop by with some friends. ”

“ It’s only fair that Leo gets the most beautiful tribute in the world,” he continued. “When the stadium is completed, it will have a capacity of 105,000 spectators, and we really want to do that. We are working to show the fans the best football, and we will give Leo the tribute he deserves . ”

It remains unclear what Messi wants for the future. Currently, the only thing he's said is that he hopes to return to Barcelona.

Laporta's intentions were crystal clear. To win the election, it was best to keep his distance from Real Madrid. "It can't be called a divorce because we were never married. The relationship wasn't good because they were involved in the Negreira lawsuit (Barca were accused of paying referees). "

Lamine Yamal is gradually winning over the Cules on the pitch, while Messi is beginning to tentatively step into the realm of top-level management at Barcelona. And that is precisely Laporta's territory.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lionel-messi-bi-mat-tro-lai-barca-tan-cong-joan-laporta-2462355.html