Joan Laporta said Lionel Messi “makes a lot more” money than Barcelona can offer but the new club president has insisted the captain “would like to stay”.
Messi joined Barca academy in 2000 and has been with La Liga since then. For a long time, many fans believed that the striker would retire at the club.
However, that perception changed in August when the Argentina international announced to Barcelona his desire to leave the club during a turbulent time on and off the pitch.
Messi ultimately chose to stay, but negotiating a new contract for the 33-year-old has always been a priority for anyone replacing Josep Maria Bartomeu, who stepped down as club president in October due to last summer’s transfer saga.
“We can make an offer within our offer [financial] Possibilities. Leo earns a lot more and could earn more elsewhere, [but] I am convinced that he appreciates our efforts and would like to stay.
“Leo isn’t about the money, it’s about a team that can win anything. I am moderately optimistic. “
Laporta called the 2020/21 season a “disaster” as Barca won the Copa del Rey but finished third in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain.
“We have always acted with the greatest respect [coach] Ronald Koeman, ”said the Spaniard. “We already had a meeting and agreed to meet next week to make decisions.
“Ronald is a coach we didn’t appoint. That’s why we need these talks to make sure we all have the same vision of the new Barca team. His behavior was impeccable. “
Hinting at signing new players this summer despite Barca’s financial difficulties, Laporta said: “A loss will have ramifications and the squad needs to be improved. We’ll be announcing new additions next week. “
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