No regrets over Messi exit – Barcelona president, Laporta

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has insisted he has no regrets over allowing Lionel Messi leave for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021.

Laporta made it clear that “no one is above the club”.

The LaLiga giants tried desperately to keep a club legend on their books as his previous contract expired, but financial difficulties at Camp Nou made an extension impossible and an emotional parting of ways inevitable.

Questions have been asked of whether both sides of discussions could have done more to get a deal done, but Laporta claims he acted in the best interests of a side that is learning to live without the services of a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Laporta has told BarcaTV+: “Messi’s departure? It was the hardest decision I made. I didn’t want to make the decision. Messi is the best player in history, but that was our situation.

“I had to make a big decision about Messi, but I do not regret it. No one is above the club. With Messi the reality hit us. There’s nothing else to it.

“But Barcelona’s history continues, and with hard work and correct decisions we can return to the path of success. That’s what we’re doing.”