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Barcelona’s Argentinian ahead Lionel Messi cries throughout a press convention on the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 8, 2021. (Photograph by Pau BARRENA / AFP)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted on Friday he hoped Lionel Messi would change his thoughts about leaving the membership and provide to play without cost.
Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in August after Barca determined to not renew the Argentinian’s contract as a result of La Liga’s strict salary limits.
“There got here a time when each events noticed that it might not be doable. There was disappointment on either side,” Laporta advised Catalan radio station RAC1.
“He needed to remain however in addition they had loads of strain due to the provide that they had. They knew if he didn’t keep, he would go to PSG.”
Laporta continued: “I hoped Messi would do a u-turn and he would say he would play without cost.
“I’d have preferred that and I’d have been all for it. It’s my understanding La Liga would have accepted it. However we can not ask a participant of Messi’s stature to do that.”
Laporta reiterated the membership’s atrocious monetary state of affairs meant they had been unable to maintain Messi on the identical phrases.
Barca recorded losses of 481 million euros ($556 million) final season, with a gross debt of 1.35 billion euros.
“We had the conclusions of the audit (on Wednesday) and the funding in Leo would have put us in danger,” mentioned Laporta, who additionally recommended Barcelona might but signal as much as a cope with funding fund CVC Capital Companions.
La Liga advised Barca in August they may preserve Messi in the event that they agreed to the deal, which concerned the league promoting 10 % of the industrial enterprise, together with tv rights, for the subsequent 50 years, in change for two.7 billion euros.
Barcelona, Actual Madrid and Athletic Bilbao rejected the provide.
“We don’t want extra debt,” mentioned Laporta. “I perceive La Liga golf equipment are struggling. Now we have not dominated ourselves out of this operation however they’ve to vary it. They’re attempting to reformulate the deal.”
Laporta additionally confirmed his help for Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, whose future has been unsure in current weeks.
“I feel he deserves a margin of confidence,” mentioned Laporta. “I requested him if he trusted the staff and he mentioned, ‘After all I belief them. I have to get the injured gamers again’. He desires to proceed in any respect prices and present this staff is aggressive.”
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