Messi and the feeling of betrayal

Barcelona members will go to the polls again next year. There is no specific date yet , but Joan Laporta appears to have already started his campaign, although he has tried to appear nonchalant .

“I am not thinking about elections yet, the season has just begun and Barca are in a fierce battle. I will call elections at the most favorable time for the club . Right now I just want to live everything intensely. I have a rock & roll life , ” he stressed in an interview with Catalunya R a dio .

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Messi did not simply return to visit Camp Nou. Photo: X/LeoMessi

During the interview, Laporta could not avoid the question about Lionel Messi 's surprise visit to Camp Nou and the Argentine superstar's cryptic post .

“I want to say goodbye as a player, like I never had the chance to do...” , Messi shared .

Laporta calmly : “With everything that happened, I have no regrets .” The shocking farewell took place on August 10, 2021 , just a few months after he returned to the presidency .

Laporta's second spell at Barcelona was largely built on the back of Messi, with the captain having lost all faith in Josep Maria Bartomeu's leadership .

He even asked to leave in the summer of 2020 by sending the famous fax . Laporta's campaign has since sparked a new glimmer of hope in him.

Laporta knows how to take advantage of that: in the middle of the election campaign, he hugged a mannequin wearing the number 10 shirt and promised to keep Messi with just “an asado barbecue (cultural features of Argentina and some South American countries - PV) " .

For his part, Messi participated in the club's presidential election for the first time. He did not say which candidate he supported, but everyone understood.

Until then, Laporta and Messi had a familiar relationship. The problem only arose when Leo felt betrayed .

Two days before putting pen to paper on the agreed new contract, Laporta called Jorge Messi – his father and agent – ​​to inform him that an extension was not possible.

“Things didn't go as we wanted; that's how it is. With everything that happened, I have no regrets , ” Laporta simply repeated.

This is not the first time Laporta has spoken about Messi since the summer of 2021, but it is the first time he has been so decisive.

Laporta's challenge

The upcoming election has the potential to be “Laporta vs Messi”, just like in the old days there was “N un ez vs Johan Cruyff”.

“ Barcelona are above everyone and everything. If in some way the tribute can mend what was not done properly, that would be great. But speculating about Messi's possible return to play is inappropriate , ” he explained.

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Laporta said he has no regrets about pushing Messi out of Barca. Photo: EFE

A new electoral chess game began on Sunday night, 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 always remember with all my heart. Where I was infinitely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world . I hope that one day I can return, not just to say goodbye as a player, like I never did before…” .

Laporta replied : “I didn’t know he was coming, but Camp Nou is his home . When I was told about it, I thought it was just a cute spontaneous act: he had dinner and wanted to come over with some friends. ”

“ It is only fair that Leo gets the best tribute in the world,” he continued. “When the stadium is finished, it will hold 105,000 spectators, and we really want to do that. We are working to show the best football to the fans , to give Leo the tribute he deserves . ”

It's still unclear what Messi wants for the future. For now, the only thing he's said is that he wants to return to Barcelona.

Laporta's intentions are clear. To win the election, it is better to keep a distance from Real Madrid. "It cannot be called a divorce because we were never married. The relationship is not good because they participated in the Negreira lawsuit (Barca was accused of paying referees) " .

Lamine Yamal is gradually conquering the cul es on the pitch, while Messi is starting to step into the upper management playground at Barcelona. And that is Laporta's territory.

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