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Joan Laporta says Barcelona have no interest in re-signing Lionel Messi after allowing the 34-year-old to join Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner joined PSG after Barcelona released a bombshell statement stating he would not be staying at the club due to financial restrictions placed upon them by LaLiga amid their colossal debts.
However, Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona after just one season in the French capital. He is said to be ‘unhappy’ with the Ligue 1 side and disappointed about their Champions League exit.
But Barcelona president Laporta has dismissed claims that Messi could be returning to the Nou Camp, despite the gradual improvement of their finances. He said that the Catalans are focused on ‘building a new team with young people’.
Speaking to RAC1, Laporta said: ‘I’ve received no message from Lionel Messi or his camp over a possibility of returning to Barcelona. At the moment we are not considering it.
‘I no longer have a fluid communication with Messi like I did before he left. His departure almost made me feel more bad for personal and family reasons rather than just strictly sporting ones.
‘We’re not considering [Messi’s return]. We are building a new team, with a mix of young players and experience – the symbiosis is working. But Leo is Leo and he’ll always be a winner.
‘For me it sure wasn’t easy [for him to go], but, as it happened, I thought about the club [finances], I couldn’t put it at more risk. I think we did what we had to do.’
Messi received a wave of criticism following PSG’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid. He was also booed by angry fans during their league match against Bordeaux.
As result, Messi has been linked with a return to the Catalan giants and Barcelona manager Xavi said his former team-mate would always be welcome at the Nou Camp.
‘Messi has earned having the doors open to Barca,’ Xavi said. ‘As long as I’m the coach here, if he wants to come every day to watch training or talk to the coach, what he’s given us is priceless, he’s the best player in history.
‘He deserves a big tribute from the club. But today he has a contract with PSG, I think he signed for two years.’
However, Laporta’s recent comments may encourage Messi to stay at PSG – with the Argentina international previously saying he wanted to lift the Ligue 1 trophy and win the Champions League with the Parisian club.
Daily Mail
