""Messi deserves the tribute at Can Barça, the most beautiful in the world, and also, along with the board of directors and his teammates, we always think that more has to be done for Messi," Laporta said on Friday during the presentation of a book about La Masia, Barça's youth academy."
""I think Messi should have a statue at Camp Nou. If [Ladislao] Kubala and [Johan] Cruyff also have statues [outside the Camp Nou], I think it would be only fair for Leo to have his own. He's one of those iconic players who have defined an era for all of us.""
""We're working on it; the family has to agree. When the time is right and we have the design, we'll bring it up. We would be very pleased, all Barcelona fans would love to have a statue of Leo Messi where the great figures in Barça's history are.""
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has proposed erecting a statue of Lionel Messi outside Camp Nou, pending family approval and a final design. Messi made an unannounced visit to Camp Nou and posted images saying he hoped to "return for the goodbye I never got to say as a player." Laporta said Messi deserves a tribute at Can Barça and likened him to other club icons with statues. Messi left Barcelona as a free agent in 2021 amid a financial crisis after winning a record 34 titles in 21 years. Covid restrictions prevented a proper farewell. Messi now plays for Inter Miami under contract through 2028.
Read at ESPN.com
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