BARCELONA: Cash got here between Barcelona and Lionel Messi.
Barca stated the participant wished to remain. The membership wished the identical.
They even shook fingers on a deal.
However in the long run the membership’s dire monetary scenario made it unattainable.
Letting Messi go was the one method of saving the membership, and similar to that Messi’s period at Barca got here to an finish.
President Joan Laporta stated on Friday that retaining the Argentina star “would be risky and not even the greatest player in the world was worth jeopardising the clubs future”.
“We think Barcelona is above all,” Laporta stated. “The club is over 100 years old and is above everyone, even above the best player in the world. The club goes over players, coaches, presidents.”
Laporta spoke a day after the membership introduced the negotiations with Messi had ended.
Laporta blamed Barca’s earlier administration for the golf equipment dire monetary scenario, which saved it from becoming Messi’s new contract inside La Liga’s truthful play laws.
He stated he hoped the league would have been extra versatile with its guidelines however understood that it couldn’t make an exception even when that meant shedding Messi.
“There are objective reasons regarding the economical situation at the club and an investment of that volume with the contract of Messi was risky,” Laporta stated. “We wanted to assume those risks, but when we realised the real situation of the club after the audit, it meant that we would have put the club in great risk.”
Laporta stated Barca have been not negotiating with Messi and the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was contemplating different gives.
“Yesterday we realised it was over. I had the last conversation with Leo’s father,” stated Laporta. “I do not want to give false hope. The player has other offers and there is a time limit because La Liga starts soon and he needs time to assess his other options.”
He stated Messi and the membership did every part to make the contract work nevertheless it wasn’t potential with out hurting Barca’s funds.
“There comes a moment when you need to say enough. You need to analyse rigorously with a cold head and look at the numbers,” Laporta stated. “And in La Liga we have to abide by the rules. We think they could be more flexible, but that’s not an excuse, we knew the regulation. We couldn’t abide by it because of the inheritance we had.”
Laporta stated Barca’s losses doubled from about 200 million euros ($235 million) to 400 million euros ($475 million). The membership’s debt not too long ago was at greater than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), and that wasn’t solely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is no margin after a calamitous situation that was all down to the previous board of administration,” he stated.
Former president Josep Bartomeu resigned final 12 months alongside together with his board of administrators amid his fallout with Messi and the membership’s monetary struggles.
La Liga has prided itself in having a number of the stricter financial controls for golf equipment in Europe, retaining them from overspending and going into heavy debt. With these controls it was in a position to create a a lot steady and stronger league in the previous couple of years.
Barca’s wage cap, which is roughly proportional to 70% of a membership’s income, was anticipated to be slashed even additional this season. Laporta stated for each 25 million the membership spends on a participant, it has to make up 100 million in cap area, which isn’t a straightforward course of. He stated the membership was already at its restrict with out the Messi contract.
Laporta stated new funding not too long ago secured by the league value 2.7 billion euros ($3.2 billion) would have helped however the membership was towards the deal as a result of it might have harm the groups broadcasting rights revenues for the subsequent 50 years.
“We are not going to increase our salary limit by selling our audiovisual rights for the next 50 years,” Laporta stated. “This decision would have been risky.”
Messi is leaving after main Barca into their most superb years. He helped the membership win 35 titles, together with the Champions League 4 instances, the La Liga 10 instances, the Copa del Rey seven instances and the Spanish Tremendous Cup eight instances.
Messi tried to depart Barca totally free final 12 months however was pressured to remain after the membership informed him an exit clause in his contract had expired. He put aside his disappointment beneath coach Ronald Koeman, ending final season as La Liga’s high scorer and scoring 38 targets in 47 video games in all competitions.
His kind, and Laporta’s re-election as president, modified the dynamic and the expectation was Messi would signal a brand new deal this summer season. However Messi’s contract expired and because the new La Liga season approached, doubts grew, culminating in Barca releasing an announcement on Thursday confirming Messi’s departure.
“Leo wanted to stay, so he is not happy,” Laporta stated. “We all wanted him to stay. But for him right now it’s a situation in which he has to confront reality. It’s a reality that can’t be changed. I wish him the best wherever he goes.”
Laporta informed Barca’s membership captains — Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Sergi Roberto — on Thursday, earlier than informing the remainder of the squad in individual on Friday morning.
“The squad has a strange feeling, a certain sadness,” stated Laporta. “I have told the players that a new stage in Barca’s history is beginning and that we have to continue winning without Messi. There is maximum commitment and professionalism.”
Messi was but to make any public statements, and there was no quick information on his future. Paris St Germain are anticipated to guide the chase for Messi however Manchester Metropolis, who tried to signal him final 12 months, may additionally be part of the bidding.
PSG supervisor Mauricio Pochettino informed reporters on Friday that Messi is an “option” that’s being evaluated by the membership, with out elaborating.
Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola stated the Premier League champions had no plans to make a transfer for Messi.
Revealed in Daybreak, August seventh, 2021
