Barcelonan President, Joan Laporta, has disclosed the kernel of a discussion he had with father of football great, Lionel Messi, over his move to Miami.

Laporta said he found the decision to join Miami instead of Barca strange but noted that the father wanted him to avoid pressure.

Laporta said in an interview with ESPN: ‘… We respect his decision and we wish the best for him. We want the best for our players. He came to Barcelona as a kid, 14-years-old, and he spent 20 years with us. I hope he can be very happy in Miami.’

But he ended up in North America and continues to excite fans of Inter after two impressive performances so far.

‘It was very close,’ Laporta added on discussions over a return. ‘We had to manage our financial fair play situation so we needed time.

‘At the end, we reached an agreement with LaLiga that authorized us to add him to the squad.

‘But Leo was coming from a situation in Paris where he was under a lot of pressure. His father told me that he needed a place where he won’t be under pressure and at Barca that would not be the case because of the meaning of the return of our hero.’

Mueez Ajao

– Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted that he clung to the hope that Lionel Messi would agree to “play for free” once it became clear that the Liga giants could not afford to put a lucrative contract extension in place.

– A stunning summer saga at Camp Nou resulted in the six-time Ballon d’Or winner walking away from the only club side that he had represented to that point, with a move to Paris Saint-Germain made as a free agent.

– Terms had been agreed on a new deal, but financial mismanagement in Catalunya and La Liga salary caps meant that no paperwork could be signed and Barca had to bid farewell to an all-time great as he packed his bags for France.

Also Read: I will never regret signing for Barcelona – Depay

– Discussing Messi’s exit with RAC1, Laporta said: “With Messi I do not get angry because I appreciate him. I know he had a huge desire to stay, but also a lot of pressure because of the offer he had.

– “Everything indicates that he already had the offer from PSG. Everyone knew that he had a very powerful offer. We knew from Messi that they had a very good offer.

– “At no time do I think of going backwards. I think I’m doing the best for Barca. Nobody can put the institution at risk.

– “I did hope that at the last minute Messi would say that he would play for free. I would have liked that and he would have convinced me. I understand that the league would have accepted it. But we cannot ask that of a player of his level.”

– While Messi has moved on, there is plenty of speculation to suggest that Barca boss Ronald Koeman could be next to head through the exits.

– The Blaugrana are being linked with various alternatives to fill a prominent coaching post, including Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and former fan favourite Xavi, but Laporta insists no sack call has been made.

– He said: “The decision is that Koeman continues. He is a cule like us. He wants Barca to do well. He has a valid contract and he has to be respected. I am happy with the decision.

– “With Xavi I speak frequently because we are friends. Also with Pep [Guardiola]. I like to know what they think because they know more than me.

– “The coach we have is Koeman. We are proud to have him as a coach.

– “People can think what they want. At no time have I ever said that it is not Koeman. I think he deserves the margin of confidence. It is a decision that is the best one. Our coach is Koeman.”

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta has has warned their Manager, Ronald Koeman, against defeatism and excuses, saying all the club wanted was results.

Koeman’s Barca have been woobling and fumbling this season and the top management is getting desperate.
He warned coach Koeman that “if decisions have to be taken, we will take them”.

The Dutchman is under growing pressure following a slow start to the campaign that has seen Barca drop points to Athletic Bilbao and Granada in their opening four La Liga games.

They have also lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

Amid reports Barca are lining up replacements for Koeman, with Belgium coach Roberto Martinez supposedly among the candidates, Koeman refused to answer any questions from reporters at Wednesday’s news conference.

Koeman instead chose to read a prepared statement in which he urged Barca fans to have patience with the process, while claiming the club’s hierarchy —- including Laporta —- was fully behind him.

Laporta fell short of guaranteeing that the former Netherlands boss would remain in charge further down the line if results did not pick up.

“We are with the coach. He’s Barca’s first team coach and what we want is for things to go well,” he said on Thursday.

“All coaches, not just Koeman, depend on results and, in Barca’s case, on their style of play. Koeman is our coach and we’re with him today.”

Koeman this week spoke out in the Dutch media about the wider issues at Camp Nou.

He also spoke about how Lionel Messi, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a free transfer last month, papered over the cracks with his individual brilliance.

But Laporta does not want to use Messi’s shock departure, plus the subsequent exit of Antoine Griezmann, as an excuse for Barca’s disappointing run of results.

“We see that the team isn’t working as we all were hoping,” Laporta said. “In that sense, we’ll act thinking always of FC Barcelona… If decisions have to be taken, we’ll take them.

“What I don’t like is a conformist attitude, a certain defeatism, that can’t be allowed at FC Barcelona.

“We have the team we have, but we can aspire to win La Liga and the players say to me that we have to be optimistic.

“We have to work, we have to fight every day, because I believe you achieve success with daily work. Less talking and more doing, more working.”
– NAN