Laporta: 'Messi's Departure? I Believe I Made the Right Decision'

T.E (Elbotola)

29 March 2026at10:36

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper 'El País,' Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed the details that led to the departure of club legend Lionel Messi, asserting that his decision was due to the difficult economic situation the club was facing.

Laporta revisited Messi's departure, stating: "I had to make a decision, and I believe I made the right one; the results are the best proof. We managed to save the club's financial situation, and we built a competitive team, and at that time, we had to change the entire generation."

He added: "Leo was approaching the end of his career, and we needed to build a new team. Would I have liked to build a new team with Leo's help? Yes. We tried, but it wasn't possible."

It is worth noting that Messi spent 21 years at Barcelona (between the youth ranks and the first team) before leaving for free in the summer of 2021 to French club Paris Saint-Germain, and then to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.

Q&A

What did Joan Laporta say about Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona?

Joan Laporta stated that Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona was a necessary decision due to the club's dire economic situation. He believes the results prove it was the right choice, allowing the club to save its finances and build a new competitive team.

Why did Barcelona's president believe Messi's exit was the right decision for the club?

Barcelona's president believed Messi's exit was the right decision because it allowed the club to address its difficult financial situation. This move also enabled them to rebuild the team with a new generation of players, despite his desire to keep Messi.

How did Laporta envision building a new team after Messi's departure?

Laporta envisioned building a new team by changing the entire generation of players at Barcelona. He acknowledged Messi was nearing the end of his career and, while he would have liked Messi's help, it ultimately wasn't possible to integrate him into the new project.

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Spanish La Liga