FC Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta has explained why Lionel Messi has left the club.
The Catalan giants announced on Thursday that talks between the club and their superstar have broken down due to “financial and structural obstacles” even though both parties had reached a new agreement.
The news shocked world football after widespread reports stated that Messi was close to signing a new five-year deal with the Blaugrana.
Messi himself, who returned to Barcelona from Ibiza on Wednesday, was said to be shocked upon being informed by Barcelona of the news.
Club president Laporta has now faced the media in a press conference to explain the club’s stance.
“We don’t have any margins in the salary cap,”
“The rules are set by LaLiga, we don’t have any margin. We knew that when I got to the club, but after our audits we realised the financials of the club are a lot worse than what we thought initially.
“The losses are a lot more elevated than what we expected, what we are spending are a lot more than what we expected. The salaries are high and it allows us no margin.
“It’s part of financial fair play, in LaLiga we follow the criteria of cash. That’s why we couldn’t fit in the first contract that we had agreed to with Lionel Messi.
“In order to match the fair play, Barca had to agree to an operation that would affect the club over the next 50 years in terms of tv rights. That means, I can’t agree with a decision that will affect the club for the next 50 years.
“The club is over 100 years old, the club is above everything, even above the best player we’ve had.
“An investment of that volume, in order to for Messi’s contract, we all wanted to achieve that but it would’ve meant that we would’ve put the club at great risk. The salary mass was all done by the previous board of directors.
“Leo wanted to stay at Barca, we wanted him to stay, but there was a moment where we had to say enough. We had to analyse it with a cold head and look at the numbers.
“In the LaLiga, we have to abide by the rules, we think they could be more flexible, but that’s not an excuse. Leo deserves everything. He’s proven that he loves Barca. He has his roots in Barca.
“If you allow me a personal thought, I’m sad but we have done the best for the club of FC Barcelona.”
