Joan Laporta has discussed the current situation at Barcelona, mainly focusing on the club’s financial struggles, the money owed to Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez’s potential contract renewal.
The Barcelona president has revealed that the club still owe Messi outstanding payments, which are expected to end in a couple of years.
“What is owed to him is the deferral of wages that was agreed with the previous board and that produces outstanding payments that end in 2025,” Laporta told La Vanguardia.
The president also discussed Messi’s decision to reject Barcelona’s advances and sign for Inter Miami instead.
“We had an agreement with LaLiga that we would dedicate part of the resources we have to Messi,” Laporta said.
“It was included in the viability plan. We communicated it to Jorge Messi, who told me that Messi had had a very difficult year in Paris and that he wanted less pressure.
“With our option, he would have continued to be under pressure and I understood his decision [to go to Inter Miami].
“Good luck to him and we’ve started to prepare a major tribute for him.
“Within the framework of the club’s 125th anniversary, and when we return to the Camp Nou, it would be perfect timing for it.”
