Laporta Breaks His Silence on Messi’s Exit
In his new book, Joan Laporta shares previously undisclosed details about Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona, including a long-term proposal that involved a future move to MLS.
Joan Laporta has offered his most detailed account yet of one of the most painful chapters in the recent history of FC Barcelona: the departure of Lionel Messi in 2021. In his book “Así salvamos al Barça” (“This Is How We Saved Barça”), Laporta outlines previously unknown negotiations and insists the club explored multiple solutions to keep the Argentine icon.
According to Laporta, there were two key moments when formal proposals were presented to Messi’s camp. The first came in 2021, amid Barcelona’s severe financial crisis. The board designed a long-term contract that would have allowed Messi to remain as a Barça player in the short term, followed by a later spell in Major League Soccer. The structure aimed to ease salary pressure while keeping the club legend tied to the institution.
Laporta admits negotiations were demanding. While Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, was described as understanding, the broader entourage maintained firm financial expectations. The proposed deal even included the possibility of a future loan to MLS as part of a strategic, multi-phase agreement.
A second attempt reportedly took place in the summer of 2023, after Messi left Paris Saint-Germain. However, strict financial regulations imposed by LaLiga, along with pressure to sign an agreement involving the CVC investment fund and television rights, ultimately blocked any realistic path for a return.
Nearly five years later, Laporta maintains that the club exhausted every viable option before witnessing the end of an era.
