It was impossible for Lionel Messi to sign a new contract and stay in Barcelona this season due to the financial imbalance. Regardless, Joan Laporta – the first man of the Catalan club – told reporters today that he hoped that the most expensive football player in the world would stay and play – for free!Laporta appeared before the press today and answered numerous questions, and it is clear that the departure of the Messi still hurts all the fans and the entire Barcelona related public, so one of the main questions was related to the Argentine maestro.”I love Messi too much to be angry with him. The worst was when we realized that there was nothing we could do, there was disappointment on both sides. He had a desire to stay, but also the pressure of numerous offers. We all knew that if he didn’t stay at Barça, he would go to PSG. Everything says that he had that offer even before he left our club.”Messi will remain listed as the best football player in the history of Barcelona, and I would like to preserve that idea,” said Laporta.Sun, 17/10, 22.00: (1.55) BARCELONA (4.40) VALENCIA (6.50)However, the Messi-topic did not stop there…”When the time came, I was convinced that he would do what is best for Barcelona. I hoped that he would change his mind and say that he would play for free, although we cannot ask a player of that caliber to do that. We had a very good relationship and I thought we would repay him when we renew our economic resources, but we could not compare with what he got in Paris.”The other piece of Barca’s puzzle of issues, almost as equally as painful for the fans as Messi’s departure is – the manager. Ronald Koeman seems to lack broader support, the team performs very badly, they keep stumbling and the near future does not look bright for the Blaugrana…”Koeman stays. We all get discouraged when things don’t go the way we would like, we re-examine ourselves, our ideas, values… After consulting with several people I trust, I came to the conclusion that I have to act like I did Rijkaard. Koeman deserves a little support.The 40 seconds conversation between Suarez and KoemanHe is one of us, he loves Barça, he agreed to come in the moments of the biggest sports and institutional temptations for the club. I asked him if he believes in this team and he told me that he does, that he was sure that everything would be much better when the guys who were injured return to the pitch. We supported him and I am happy for that decision. “Therefore, Xavi is not a candidate for the Camp Nou dug-out at this moment, although he is regularly in contact with Laporta.”We often hear from each other because we are friends, as I am with Guardiola. I like to talk to people who know more than me, to hear their opinion. But we have Koeman at the moment and we are proud of that.”Barcelona are in desperate need of goals but is Divock Origi the answer to their prayers?Laporta also announced that the club will soon sign new contracts with their greatest talents who are already with the first team.”We are in negotiations with Gavi, which we have paused now while he is with the national team. We are thrilled to have him in our club. We are also making good progress with Pedri and I believe that we will publish good news soon. “Everything is going in the right direction with Fati, as well as with Sergi Roberto, who agreed to a salary reduction,” Laporta revealed.
