Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been explaining why a new contract cannot be agreed with Lionel Messi, as the argentine prepares to play for another football club for the first time in his life.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the Liga giants appeared to be closing in on an agreement that would keep the six-time Ballon d’Or winner on their books, with Messi having opened himself up to an extended stay in Catalunya.
Financial struggles have, however, brought those discussions to a close, with a desire from both sides to get a deal done not enough as the Argentina international prepares to open a new chapter away from Barca.
Laporta told a press conference: ‘Leo wanted to stay at Barca. We wanted him to stay.
‘I want to thank everyone that has been in the negotiations. There were lots of aspects that needed to be negotiated.
‘He is the best player in the world and has other offers, of course.
‘After all of this process, there comes a moment where you have to say ‘enough’. You have to analyse it and look at the numbers.
‘In La Liga we have to abide by the rules. We think they could be more flexible, but that is not an excuse. We couldn’t abide by it.
‘Leo deserves everything. He has proven that he loves Barca. He has his roots in Barcelona. I’m sad but I’m convinced we have done the best for the interests of Barcelona.’
Laporta further added: ‘Leo’s legacy is excellent, he has made history. He is the player with the most success in the history of the club. I hope we can overcome this situation.
‘A new era starts now. There will be before and after Leo, as there was with other great players in the history of Barca.’
Laporta, though, concedes that fresh terms for the modern-day icon are now highly unlikely, with the path cleared for him to enter into discussions with other teams.
He said: ‘I don’t want to generate false hope.
‘During the course of negotiations we know that the player has had other offers. There was a time limit.
‘If fair play continues to be rigid, the player needs some time to see what he is going to do and look at other options.
‘We have been at it for two months and have gone through different stages. The first agreement was two years. Then we agreed a five-year contract.
‘We were all thinking of two years and, if he wanted more, we could sit and negotiate. We wanted the era of post-Messi to start in two years, but we have had to bring that forward.’
He added: ‘Leo wanted to stay, so he is not happy. For him right now, it is a situation where he has to confront reality that can’t be changed. He knows that I wish him the best wherever he goes. Barca is his home.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
