Laporta admits that his relationship with Messi was broken, now he is ready to give him the respect he deserves

Gilabola.com – Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed his views on his personal relationship with Lionel Messi, his role as club leader and his confidence in coach Hansi Flick.

In an interview with 3Cats, Laporta emphasized that although his relationship with Messi was disrupted due to the separation in 2021, he now hopes to be able to pay great tribute to the legend.

Laporta stated that he loved his role as Barcelona president and always felt called to save the club in difficult times. He believes that many people can lead Barcelona, ​​but the most important thing is love for the club and responsibility in preserving its legacy.

When asked lightly but meaningfully about who deserves to be called ‘God’ more, between Johan Cruyff or Lionel Messi, Laporta answered honestly that Cruyff remains the main figure in the club’s history.

He explained that his relationship with Messi was damaged when his contract could not be extended, but the relationship is now starting to improve.

Laporta admitted that the decision not to extend Messi’s contract in 2021 was one of the most difficult moments during his tenure. He emphasized that financial constraints at that time really limited the club’s progress, even though he really wanted to keep the superstar.

The 63-year-old president said that Barcelona now has a strong desire to give Messi the respect he deserves for all his contributions to the club.

He emphasized that the award was not just a symbol, but rather a form of appropriate recognition for the extraordinary dedication and history that Messi has made at Camp Nou.

Laporta said that his hope is simple: that one day Messi can return to Barcelona to receive respect commensurate with his service to the club and its fans.

Laporta’s confidence in Hansi Flick

Apart from discussing his relationship with Messi, Laporta also praised coach Hansi Flick, who according to him fits Barcelona’s character very well. He described Flick as a ‘Gladiator’ figure who was firm but had a strong emotional side towards his players.

Laporta believes that Flick is a great coach and an extraordinary discovery for the club. He praised the German coach’s disciplined, sensitive and sociable approach, but still demanded high standards from everyone in the team.

According to him, Flick is the type of coach who doesn’t change plans easily, but has empathy for the players and staff. This makes Laporta feel comfortable working with him because the values ​​held by the coach are in line with the club’s philosophy.

Laporta also explained his views on what a Barcelona president should have. He emphasized that integrity and honesty are the main foundations. A club leader, he said, must keep his promises and be a person who can be trusted by players, staff and supporters.

He added that the Barcelona president must always put the club’s interests above personal interests. According to him, the success of a leader at Barcelona is not measured by personal gain, but by his ability to maintain the value and dignity of the club.