Laporta: "My Relationship with Messi Was Damaged; He Refused to Shake My Hand at 2023 Ballon d'Or Ceremony!"

Joan Laporta, the former president of Barcelona, has openly admitted that his relationship with Argentinian star Lionel Messi is no longer what it once was, indicating it is going through a period of coolness due to recent events that have left their mark.

Laporta explained that one of the most prominent of these events occurred in 2023, during the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony. He recounted, "There was also an incident at the Ballon d'Or ceremony; I went to greet him, and he decided we shouldn't exchange greetings."

He continued, "They wanted us to sign a 50-year agreement with 'CVC' to register Leo. We couldn't do that. The club is above names. This is what saddened me the most. These are difficult decisions. We couldn't have everything. If we had renewed his contract, we wouldn't have been able to afford it."

This stance clearly demonstrated a growing distance that was already forming, thus confirming the damage to the relationship between the two parties. Laporta affirmed that after this incident, some attempts at reconciliation were made, but they have not yet achieved decisive success. He admitted, "The relationship is not what it used to be."

Nevertheless, Laporta was keen to emphasize the respect and admiration he holds for the former Barcelona player, stating, "The relationship is damaged, but he is a legend in Barcelona's history." He stressed that Messi's status remains firmly established in the club's history, regardless of any personal or institutional disagreements.