LaLiga: Laporta hopes Messi finishes career at Barcelona
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said that he hopes Lionel Messi will end his career “in a Barca shirt”.
Messi left the Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, after 17 years in the Barcelona first team, as the Catalan giants struggled with financial problems.
🚨🗣️ FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta: "We have a moral debt with Leo Messi. I want the end of his playing career with him wearing the Barça shirt and being applauded at every stadium." 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Mfhiz5ZFUE
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) July 29, 2022
But Laporta is hopeful that the 35-year-old will be able to return to Barca before he hangs up his boots.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says it is a 'dream' to bring Lionel Messi back to the Nou Camp to finish his career pic.twitter.com/p10PBlgRlU
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) July 29, 2022
“Messi’s time at Barca didn’t end as we all would’ve liked,” he told Spanish press during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“I believe that Barca have a moral debt towards Leo Messi. We would like the end of his career to come in a Barca shirt, being applauded at all the grounds, wherever he goes.”
Barça president Joan Laporta: “I feel indebted to Leo Messi. I’d love end of his career to be at Barcelona with a standing ovation in every stadium. I think we can make it happen”. 🔵🔴 #FCB
“That’s our aspiration, my intention with Leo is clear”, Laporta added via @tjuanmarti. pic.twitter.com/uCKETKWMdt
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 29, 2022
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Laporta clarified that “nothing has been discussed” with Messi, who has one season left on his PSG contract with an option for an extra year.
“It was a temporary end (to his Barca career) because I believe that we will make this wish a reality,” he added.
Messi scored only 11 goals in all competitions in his debut PSG campaign, the first time he had scored fewer than 30 in a season since 2007-08.