The Rift That Won’t Heal

Lionel Messi’s name has shaken FC Barcelona once again. In an interview with Sports360, former club vice president Jordi Mestre claimed that the relationship between the Argentine legend and Joan Laporta is at one of its lowest points.

“I’ve been told by third parties that Leo Messi and his family are very, very, very angry with Laporta. Very angry,” said Mestre, confirming that the wounds from Messi’s 2021 exit have never truly healed.

The former executive, who served from 2015 to 2019, emphasized that Messi was not only the best player in the club’s history but also a key economic force for Barcelona:
“Whatever we do for Leo will never be enough. What he gave us is incredible, not only on a sporting level. Financially, the tours with him were one thing — without him, completely another. Yes, he earned a lot, but he made the club earn far more. Even world-class players came just to play alongside Messi.”

A Tribute Long Overdue

Mestre lamented that Barça has yet to give Messi the tribute he truly deserves and suggested a lasting gesture:
“I don’t know what the club is planning, but whatever it is, it won’t be enough. I’d do something historic — for example, naming the main stand of the new Spotify Camp Nou after Leo Messi, so his name is passed down from generation to generation.”

The former director insisted that no player will ever have the same impact as the Argentine No. 10, on or off the pitch, and urged the club to reconcile with its greatest icon during this new rebuilding phase.

Neymar: The Unfinished Story

During the same interview, Mestre also spoke about Neymar, describing his departure to PSG as “a thorn in the club’s side” — and in Messi’s too.
“It really hurt that Neymar didn’t work out because he was extraordinary. He was supposed to be Leo Messi’s heir. Messi himself told me he wanted him back. And I get it — having Neymar made things easier for him.”

Mestre also revisited his infamous 2017 statement that he was “200 percent sure Neymar wouldn’t leave,” which proved false just days later. “At that time, not even the players knew he was going. Later, I figured out how the whole transfer unfolded… with Pini Zahavi involved. And we all know who his close friend is,” he hinted.

Finally, he revealed another controversial detail: that the club forgave Neymar’s family a €16 million debt, even after winning the case in court. “Laporta went to Israel to meet Zahavi and dropped the claim, even though Barça had won in the second instance,” Mestre concluded.

A statement that reopens old wounds at Camp Nou — between legends, presidents, and unresolved stories that still divide Barcelona. Because when it comes to Messi and Laporta, the past never truly stays in the past.