Report: Joan Laporta’s plan for Messi to keep him at Barcelona

Joan Laporta’s return to the Camp Nou with a landslide victory in the presidential elections has been greeted with enthusiasm and optimism by the Barcelona faithful. To have a familiar figure at the helm, under whom the club reached the very top, is what the fans have desired for years now.

What the victory means for Laporta though is that he finds himself in a position to turn the club around from arguably the most precarious situation it has been in. With financial turmoil looming large and uncertainty around the future of the best player in the history of the club, no president has faced challenges as big as this on his arrival.

But, this is exactly why Laporta wanted to return. Having faced a similar situation when he first became the president back in 2003, he wants to show everyone that if there anyone who can bring Barcelona back to its old glory, it’s him.

Certainly, one of the biggest if not the biggest challenge for Laporta is to retain Lionel Messi at the club after the Barcelona captain expressed his desire to leave at the beginning of the season. People around the Argentine have maintained the stance that the decision about his continuity will be taken at the end of the season taking into account several factors before it can be made.

Messi will assess a lot of things before making his final decision; his history with Barcelona, Laporta’s project, family, results at the end of the season, the economic situation, other offers, etc.

— @Benayadachraf pic.twitter.com/x1ezveTP8d

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) March 12, 2021

Laporta on the other hand is trying to prepare a solid case addressing the needs of the player as reported by Mundo Deprortivo:

Laporta will present a sporting and economic offer for Leo that will include being an ambassador for the club. Potent signings like Haaland and Alaba, close ones like Aguero and the rise of the youth, hooks to bait Messi.

He aims to present a model that will convince the Barcelona captain that planned success can be achieved in the twilight years of his career. With clever signings mixed with bigger ones, he will hope to keep Messi within the economic bounds of the club. What helps his case is that Messi has always had good relations with him and for the first time in his 20 years at the club, the Argentine came out to vote in the presidential elections indicating that his heart is still in Catalunya.

According to Maxi Grillo (relayed by Gerard Romero), Laporta is set to meet Leo’s father-agent Jeorge Messi next week:

Jorge Messi will travel to Barcelona on Monday to listen to Barça’s offer, where they will offer him a renewal for another 3 years.

As the footballing world awaits to know what is next for the best player in the game, fans would hope that an agreement can be reached between the two parties and Barcelona can be back at the top, where it belongs.

Article by Yugam Sahni