Laporta breaks silence: Was letting Messi leave Barcelona the right call?

Barcelona president Joan Laporta defended his controversial decision to part ways with Lionel Messi in August 2021 insisting the move ultimately benefited the club both financially and competitively.

Speaking to Spanish outlet El País, Laporta explained why he believes the decision, made during his return to presidency, has now been vindicated.

A painful decision in 2021

When Laporta was re elected as Barcelona president in March 2021, he campaigned heavily on keeping Lionel Messi at the club. However just months later, on 5 August 2021 the club officially confirmed that Messi would not continue due to severe financial and structural obstacles.

The announcement shocked the football world and marked the end of an era, with Messi eventually joining Paris Saint-Germain. The decision was widely criticized at the time especially given Messi’s status as Barcelona’s greatest-ever player.

Financial recovery and a new project

Reflecting on that moment, Laporta made it clear he has no regrets:

“I had to make a decision and I believe I made the right one. The results speak for themselves” he said.

He pointed to Barcelona’s financial recovery as a key outcome highlighting how the club has stabilized its economic situation after years of crisis.

According to Laporta, the departure of Messi allowed Barcelona to rebuild and invest in a new generation of players capable of competing at the highest level.

End of an era, start of another

Laporta also emphasized that the club needed a generational shift. While he acknowledged that keeping Messi as part of the transition would have been ideal, he admitted it was simply not feasible under the circumstances.

“Leo was approaching the final stage of his career and we had to think about the future. We tried to find a solution that included him but it wasn’t possible” Laporta explained.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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