Barcelona Presidential Candidate Unveils Plan for Lionel Messi's Return as Strategic Partner

Marc Ciria, a candidate for the presidency of Spanish club Barcelona, has unveiled a plan aimed at bringing Argentine star Lionel Messi back to the club as a strategic partner. According to Ciria, this move seeks to heal the emotional wound left by Messi's departure, while also providing a strong economic boost to aid the Catalan club's financial recovery plan.

The economist's proposals also included the possibility of Messi having "one last dance" as a player for the team, though he noted that such a decision would depend on consultations between a professional technical secretariat and the player himself. Criticizing the current administration, Marc Ciria stated that Messi's departure represented the biggest strategic error in the club's history, holding current president Joan Laporta fully responsible for the Argentine star's exits in both 2021 and 2023.

Ciria confirmed that his electoral campaign used Messi's image in a promotional poster with prior knowledge from those close to the player. He stated, "We would not have taken this step, which is a call and a tribute to Messi's return, without obtaining his consent." The presidential candidate also stressed the necessity of relying heavily on La Masia academy talents, aiming for 60 to 70 percent of the first-team squad to come from the academy. He expressed his ambition to lead Barcelona to five Champions League titles during his potential presidential term.

Ciria described Barcelona's current financial situation as "extremely weak," considering the club to be the most indebted in the world at present. The candidate believes that Messi's renewed presence would serve as a vital lever for economic growth, explaining that Messi's contribution, "in addition to healing the emotional wound, will give an economic boost to financially re-launch the club," according to his technical and economic vision.