Joan Laporta explains the reason for the delay in Messi's farewell!

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club still intends to hold a special tribute event honouring Argentine legend Lionel Messi, insisting the plan remains alive despite recent reports suggesting a cooling in relations between the two parties.

Laporta's remarks came during the club's general assembly, in response to a question from one of the members about the possibility of paying tribute to Barcelona's historic captain, who left the club in the summer of 2021 when his contract expired amid difficulties linked to financial fair play rules.

• read more: Xavi speaks about Lionel Messi's departure: "Laporta cancelled everything."

Camp Nou renovation delays the farewell

The Catalan club's president made clear that the administration is holding off until work on the Spotify Camp Nou redevelopment is fully finished before staging the long-awaited event, noting that Barcelona want a tribute befitting a player who defined a golden era in the club's history.

Laporta also touched on the circumstances surrounding Messi's departure years ago, explaining that a return had been on the table once the Argentine's spell with Paris Saint-Germain came to an end, only for the player to opt for a fresh challenge in the United States with Inter Miami.

As he put it: "As we said before, we will hold a tribute event for the Argentine when the stadium is complete. He could have spent a year with us, but he made another decision, and we would be delighted to hold this event."

The president was keen to send a message of support to the Argentine star, offering his condolences over the death of his father while stressing that the club's doors remain open for an event honouring the extraordinary career of Barcelona's all-time leading scorer.

He added: "I would like to offer my sincere condolences on the passing of his father. We are at his service. The project will be finished in early 2028, and once the stadium reaches its full capacity of 105,000 spectators, it will be the right time to organise this event."

According to the project's timeline, the Spotify Camp Nou is expected to be fully ready during the 2028-2029 season, with the expansion work and installation of the new roof complete, allowing Barcelona to welcome more than 105,000 fans into one of the largest sporting venues in the world.

Yet even with the Catalan club confirming that the tribute plans remain in place, the event will also depend on the approval of Messi and his team, given Barcelona's wish for the occasion to serve as a farewell worthy of the most decorated and accomplished player in the club's history.

Messi stands among the greatest football legends of all time, having led Barcelona to dozens of domestic and continental titles and left behind an exceptional legacy that has supporters eagerly awaiting the moment he is formally honoured inside the Camp Nou.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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