Barcelona's former Argentinian forward Lionel Messi cries at the start of a press conference
Barcelona's former Argentinian forward Lionel Messi cries at the start of a press conference
Football

Laporta hopes Messi finishes career at Barcelona

AFP Madrid

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said that he hopes Lionel Messi will end his career “in a Barca shirt”.

Messi left the Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, after 17 years in the Barcelona first team, as the Catalan giants struggled with financial problems.

In this file photo taken on 18 August, 2018 Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacts during the Spanish league football match between Barcelona and Alaves at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona

But Laporta is hopeful that the 35-year-old will be able to return to Barca before he hangs up his boots.

“Messi’s time at Barca didn’t end as we all would’ve liked,” he told Spanish press during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

“I believe that Barca have a moral debt towards Leo Messi. We would like the end of his career to come in a Barca shirt, being applauded at all the grounds, wherever he goes.”

Laporta clarified that “nothing has been discussed” with Messi, who has one season left on his PSG contract with an option for an extra year.

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Ousmane Dembele pose for a picture during the contract renewal at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain on 14 July, 2022

“It was a temporary end (to his Barca career) because I believe that we will make this wish a reality,” he added.

Messi scored only 11 goals in all competitions in his debut PSG campaign, the first time he had scored fewer than 30 in a season since 2007-08.

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