Joan Laporta Reveals Details Behind Messi Exit

In his book Así salvamos al Barcelona, Joan Laporta explains the failed attempts to keep Lionel Messi at Barcelona in 2021. A long term deal included a future MLS move to ease financial strain. Talks resurfaced in 2023 after his PSG exit, but LaLiga restrictions and CVC related pressures blocked any realistic return.

As the debate over Lionel Messi’s Barcelona exit continues years later, Joan Laporta has broken his silence with new revelations in his book Así salvamos al Barça. The Barcelona president details the behind the scenes efforts made to prevent Messi’s departure in 2021, during one of the club’s worst financial crises. Laporta explains that the board presented a long term proposal designed to reduce immediate salary pressure while keeping Messi linked to the club.

The plan would have allowed him to remain at Barcelona initially before moving to Major League Soccer later as part of a structured, multi phase agreement. It even included the possibility of a future loan to MLS. While Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, was said to be understanding, other members of the player’s camp reportedly held firm financial expectations, making negotiations demanding.

A second attempt to bring Messi back occurred in the summer of 2023 after his exit from Paris Saint Germain. However, strict LaLiga financial regulations and pressure surrounding the CVC investment fund and television rights made a return impossible. Nearly five years on from the emotional 2021 separation, Laporta insists Barcelona explored every realistic solution before witnessing the end of an era.