Joan Laporta speaks on Lionel Messi’s potential Barcelona return | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has this week spoken out on the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the club before his playing days are out.

This of course comes fresh off the Argentine returning to the very forefront of the headlines in Catalunya’s capital over the last couple of days.

Messi paid a surprise visit to the Spotify Camp Nou this past Monday, an important development in breaking the rumoured long-standing tension between the 38-year-old and his former employers.

The trip has even given rise to suggestions that Messi could rejoin Barcelona on a short-term basis during the offseason in Major League Soccer.

Speaking during his own appearance in front of the media on Wednesday, the subject of a potential reunion with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was therefore put to Joan Laporta.

Barcelona’s president, during an interview with Catalunya Radio (as cited by Sky), though, made use of the opportunity to play the subject down:

“Out of the utmost respect for Lionel Messi, the club’s professionals, Barca and the club members, I consider it inappropriate to now make speculations that are unrealistic and, in my opinion, also unfair.”

Conor Laird – GSFN