Barcelona president Joan Laporta is still disappointed. He didn’t get to keep Lionel Messi.
Messi left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last season. There were local reports that he would return to Barcelona, but in the end, he headed to American Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
There, he is leading the Messi craze. Scoring goals in two consecutive games and leading the team to two straight wins, he quickly became the hero of Inter Miami.
“It looks strange to see Messi in an Inter Miami jersey,” Laporta told ESPN in the United States.
“We identify with Messi and Barcelona. Most of his career was played in Barcelona, so that’s how most of our supporters feel. Messi came to Barcelona when he was 14, and we spent 20 years together. But we respect his decision and we wish him the best of luck. I hope he’s happy in Miami,” he added.
Laporta reiterated that the Messi deal was close.
“The deal was very close. We had solved the financial issues, and we had the approval of La Liga. But Leo was under a lot of pressure at PSG, and his father wanted 카지노사이트 Messi not to be under pressure from now on. If he came to Barcelona, he would have been under pressure because it would mean the return of a hero. That’s why he chose Miami.”
“In Miami, Messi will help the team and the league develop. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will also be very attractive to American fans. Their choices were also ones we respected and understood.”