Laporta's new book, "Així hem salvat el Barça," was officially released this Tuesday, recounting his five-year tenure as president.
Messi's Departure
One of the most difficult and still influential topics for Laporta is Messi's departure. "During contract negotiations, his team was extremely demanding. Although his father was relatively understanding, the general impression within the circle wasn't. We came up with a crazy plan: a long-term contract, with him as a Barcelona player in the first phase and a loan spell at a MLS team in the second, which seemed to circumvent La Liga's financial rules. But La Liga made us abandon this idea and demanded we sign an agreement to sell part of the television broadcasting rights for the next 50 years to a fund called CVC."
After ending his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi also had opportunities to return. "Jorge Messi came to my house, I prepared a contract, sent him a draft, but received no reply. A week, two weeks… a month later, he finally came to my house again and told me they had decided to go to Inter Miami, where they wouldn't be under so much pressure."
Jahiklmnru
48
Loan Messi to MLS in 2021? this is the most disrespectful statement I've ever heard in football.
Ratackpru
48
Who is the Messi that we can't hear words, he's gone for good stop using the name for campaign