"The first big signing I made as president was Ronaldinho's. We were all very excited. They're all important, but this one was more so because he was a player who breathed new life into Barcelona."
"Messi decided to come to the Spotify Camp Nou with Pepe Costa, and when the gatekeeper saw it was Leo, they let him in. His departure? The club comes before everything. I spoke with him on his birthday, but it didn't have greater consequences,"
"As for reconciling? It is an issue that saddens me. That depends on the other party. I want to acknowledge him, because the Messi era is the most glorious in our history. He has given a lot to Barça, but Barça has also given a lot to him."
Joan Laporta served as Barcelona president from 2003 to 2010 and returned in 2021 at age 63. He credits the Ronaldinho signing as his first major transfer and as a player who breathed new life into Barcelona. Laporta says he has steered the club toward stability on and off the field despite ups and downs. He called Lionel Messi’s exit a great disappointment, described the breakdown of relations as saddening, and expressed a desire to acknowledge and possibly reconcile with Messi while noting reconciliation depends on the other party. Laporta is preparing for presidential elections in 2026 and praised young talents like Lamine Yamal.
Read at Barca Universal
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