Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals plans to build a statue for Lionel Messi outside the Camp Nou | OneFootball

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is nearing the end of his tenure as president of the Catalan club. With elections set to take place early next year, the expectation is that he will run for the presidency for a second successive term.

His current stint, which began in 2021, has seen many positives, but one situation that still feels strange is the way Lionel Messi’s exit was handled. The club icon was effectively ushered out of the back door, which still haunts Barcelona fans to this day.

Last week, Messi visited the Spotify Camp Nou without informing anyone, taking everyone by surprise. Now, during the presentation of the book Jo Vaig Viure a la Masia by journalist Xavi Torres, Laporta revealed plans to potentially construct a statue of the Argentinian outside the Spotify Camp Nou. As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, he said:

“Within the board, with the colleagues, we always think that something more should be done for Messi. He should have a statue at the Spotify Camp Nou, like Cruyff and Kubala. It would only be fair for Leo to have his own, because he is one of those reference players who have marked us all. We are working on it. Obviously, the family has to agree. When the moment comes and we have the design of the statue, we will present it. We would love it, as Barça fans.”

Everyone, including Laporta, seems to feel that the club failed to give Messi a farewell befitting his service. Only a few weeks ago, the president mentioned that he would love to give the Argentine a belated farewell in front of a packed Camp Nou.

A statue outside the remodelled stadium alongside Cruyff and Kubala would be a wonderful gesture to the great man. However, Messi is a player who likes to remain grounded, and he might not want such a tribute from the club.

If the Inter Miami star gives his blessing, Barcelona should do everything it can to build the statue for the club icon. He is the best there has been in the history of the sport, and it is with immense pride that everyone says he spent most of his career in a Blaugrana jersey.