According to Xavi, the president told him directly that if Messi returned, the player would 'wage war against him' and that he could not allow such a situation. Messi's entourage stands by Xavi's version, with journalist Sique Rodriguez confirming that people close to the Argentine validated that Laporta halted the transfer when it was already agreed.
After my departure, I decided not to make any statements out of respect for Barça. People know how much I love the club; my whole family are Barça fans. But I feel the need to explain myself. I've been carrying this inside and I need to clarify things.
Speaking to the crowd, Laporta didn't hold back. "The club is objectively and indisputably better than five years ago," he said. He highlighted the turnaround as the result of relentless work, courageous decisions, and a team that has consistently placed "the crest above any other interest." According to him, Barça has pulled back from the brink financially, regained institutional credibility, and returned to the global spotlight.
The overall assessment is positive. We've worked collectively to bring joy back to the Barça faithful. The institution is strong, and the team is captivating. We've returned to the Spotify Camp Nou. It's an environment that embodies what Barça is today. The Spotify Camp Nou is one of the best decisions we've made, and now it's time to finish it. The third tier is still missing.
"Rayo came out very badly damaged from that match. It was a match in which two players were sent off, and the game was extended by ten additional minutes when the score was tied. "On top of that, a penalty was awarded in the last minute that, in my opinion, was incorrect," he said (h/t AS).
However, Alvarez's performance against Barça was less than ideal as he barely made any impact in the final third, with the Catalans ending up securing a comfortable 3-1 victory. According to SPORT, Alvarez's timid performance against Barcelona did not really impress president Joan Laporta. However, that hasn't deterred Laporta, who still remains interested in the services of Alvarez and harbours the hope of signing him in the near future.
Zahavi, who lives in London, took advantage of his proximity to stop by the hotel and greet his client. The meeting with Flick was cordial and brief, held in the calm atmosphere typical of the hours before a European fixture. The Israeli agent arrived with two of his regular collaborators, Max Bielefeld and Humberto Paiva, who accompanied him throughout the visit.
Joan Laporta's current term at Barcelona has been largely aimed at lifting the club from the financial mess they were in at the time of his arrival. After all, the club were sinking into debt when he took over as the president. Through well-negotiated salary revisions, player sales and economic levers, Laporta brought Barcelona back to a competitive level on the field and close to the financial 1:1 rule, although they still have not hit the aforementioned balance yet. The club's situation and means of getting out of it, however, have generated significant debate in recent times.
"I want Camp Nou to be a sacred temple where we can share many memories with 105,000 fans when it's finished. Flick has told me he wants to see it, and I've told him he'll see it because he's very well established here,"
I believe that at this moment, the possible disqualification of Javier Tebas is not good news. Our problems have been resolved and the relations are getting better and better," he told El Suplement.
Font argued that the financial levers later pulled with Sixth Street proved that retaining Messi was always a possibility, had there been a plan. "Barça had the potential to retain Messi in 2021, but we got to June promising that he would be renewed at a barbecue... The moment for the signing to be made official arrived, and it didn't happen," Font explained.
