Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals his relationship with Lionel Messi remains strained, citing a snub at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony after Messi left the club in 2021

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has disclosed that his relationship with Lionel Messi remains strained following the Argentine superstar’s departure from the club in 2021.

Also read: Lionel Messi Saudi Offer Rejected by Sports Minister

Messi left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain due to the club’s financial constraints and later joined Inter Miami in the USA Major League Soccer.

Laporta revealed that he encountered Messi at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, where the encounter made him realize that their friendship had irreversibly changed.

“The relationship with Messi isn’t the same as before. There was also a situation at the Ballon d’Or ceremony where I went to say hello to him, and he thought we shouldn’t shake hands.

Since then, there has been some rapprochement, and hopefully, this will continue in the future. The relationship is strained, but he’s a Barcelona legend,” Laporta said via GOAL.

Laporta explained that while Messi remains a club legend, the tension stems from the manner in which the 2021 contract negotiations collapsed, forcing Messi to leave the Nou Camp despite his long-standing ties to the club.

Messi had reportedly intended to return to Barcelona two years later after receiving assurances from the club, but the transfer did not materialize, and he opted for Inter Miami instead.

Also read: Lionel Messi Linked with Galatasaray Move to Join Osimhen

“The relationship is tense, but he’s a Barcelona legend,” Laporta added, emphasizing the lasting respect for Messi despite the personal strain.