Lionel Messi ’s time at Paris Saint-Germain has not been a universally happy one since his high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona last year.
The Argentine has netted just two domestic goals across 19 appearances since his move to the French capital this summer. Recent reports have indicated that Messi is unhappy in Paris as he has failed to settle in the city and at the club for multiple reasons, with the potential of cutting short his two-year contract at the club.
Talk of Messi returning to Barcelona has subsequently been talked up by the club’s president Joan Laporta. However, the Blaugrana chief has since performed a u-turn on this stance by pouring cold water on such suggestions and claiming that there had been no contact between the two in recent months.
Laporta told Catalan radio earlier this week: "Now the relationship is less fluid than before. There is no contact in person. I remember him with affection and I hope he does the same for us too.
"But before (Messi’s exit) it was about the institution, I couldn't put it at risk. I think I did what I had to do. I felt worse because of the family issue (Messi’s family had to leave the city and his children change schools). I haven't received any message from Leo or those around him about returning to Barcelona."
A report from Tyc Sports in Argentina has now explained why Laporta may have made those comments and essentially admitted defeated in his pursuit of any return for Messi. It is said that while the superstar would consider leaving PSG this year – midway through his two-year contract – a return to Barca is not on the cards.
Messi has no desire to return to the Camp Nou and it is claimed that the primary reason he does not wish to re-join Barca is because of Laporta. It is suggested that the player’s relationship with the president has broken down.
Have Your Say! Did Messi make a mistake by joining PSG last year? Tell us what you think here.
The 34-year-old is both the record appearance holder and record goal scorer for Barca, where he spent a sensational 16 years as the main player. Yet his relationship with Laporta appears to have been broken by the manner of his exit from the club a year ago.
The Barca president subsequently claimed Dani Alves ‘also made a significant financial effort to return’ to the club in November, when discussing Messi – with the unsaid part of that sentence alluding to the Argentine not doing so. That was not the first time that Laporta’s remarks in the subsequent months have contradicted Messi’s version of the club not allowing him to continue.
Back in October, Laporta said : "Am I angry with him? No, I love him too much to be angry. But there comes a time when, when you see that it was not possible to stay, there is disappointment on both sides. There was a desire to stay, but pressure with the offer he had (from PSG). We knew that if he did not stay, he would go to PSG. Messi will go down in the history of Barça as the best player ever for the club and I would like to preserve this idea."
Messi has already addressed these quotes – without directly naming Laporta – as causing him ‘hurt’ and rebuffing their accuracy. The Argentine forward told Sport last November: "The truth is that, as I explained on my way out, I did everything possible to stay, never at any time was I asked to play for free. I was asked to cut my salary by 50 per cent and I did it without any problem. We were in a position to help the club more. The desire of me and my family was to stay in Barcelona.
"Nobody asked me to play for free but at the same time, it seems to me that the words said by the president are out of place. They hurt me because I think he doesn't need to say that, it's like getting the ball off you and not assuming its consequences, or taking charge of things. This makes people think or generates a type of doubt that I think I do not deserve."
