Joan Laporta blamed for Messi’s exit from Barcelona

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been blamed for Lionel Messi’s infamous exit from the club.

Messi completed a shock Free Transfer to PSG in the summer of 2021 after he was unable to sign a new contract with Barcelona.

The Argentine legend broke virtually every record during over 20 years at Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.

READ MORE: How much does Lionel Messi earn and what is the football legend’s net worth?

But Barcelona were unable to sign him to a new deal – mainly for financial reasons - leading to an infamous farewell press conference in which Messi broke down and cried.

Former Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font places the blame squarely at the feet of Laporta, who returned as Barca supremo in the months before Messi’s exit.

What did Font say about Messi's Barca exit?

“Barça have not lived up to the historical dimension of the figure of Messi. Let us hope that we can take perspective and make a proper analysis of everything,” Font told La Vanguardia.

“And may the conclusions also help us to understand that, even in the world of emotions, goodwill, barbecues and determination are not enough.

“Messi would have maximised the value of the team.”

Laporta had been confident in the months leading up to Messi’s exit that he would sign a new contract, something Font has not forgotten.

Messi has been repeatedly linked with a return to Barcelona in recent months, with his contract at PSG set to expire at the end of the season.

However, it is believed that Messi is closing to signing an extension at PSG.

Messi endured a difficult first season in Paris, scoring just four Ligue 1 goals all campaign and performing poorly as PSG were dumped out of the Champions League – capitulating from 2-0 up on aggregate to lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in the last-16.

However, he has been back to his world-class best this campaign, culminating in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar with seven goals and three assists.