"The president is lying about what happened with Messi. Leo was signed. In January of 2023, after he had won the World Cup, I spoke to him and he told me he was excited to return. We spoke until March and I told him: 'Once you give me the OK, I will tell the president because it works perfectly on a football level.' The president negotiated the contract with Leo's dad [Jorge] and we had the green light from La Liga financially, but it was the president who pulled out."
"He told me verbatim that if Messi came back, he would make a war [against Laporta]. My interest is in telling the truth. Leo didn't come because the president didn't want him. It's a lie to say it's because La Liga [wouldn't allow it financially] or Jorge Messi asked for more money. It was the president and his people who said they could not allow it, that he [Laporta] has all the power and that Messi would handle that badly."
After winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, Lionel Messi explored options as his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired. Barcelona coach Xavi negotiated a verbal agreement with Messi to return to Camp Nou, where he had scored 672 goals before departing in 2021. The deal progressed through early 2023 with La Liga's financial approval and agreement from Messi's father Jorge. However, Xavi claims president Joan Laporta ultimately blocked the transfer, citing concerns about Messi's return creating internal conflict. Laporta has publicly stated Messi chose not to return due to pressure. Messi subsequently joined Inter Miami instead of returning to Barcelona.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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