Lionel Messi has had an eventful week, with his recent Ballon d’Or win marking the eighth of his career. He was awarded the prestigious trophy for his outstanding performances in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, surpassing Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
During his acceptance speech, Messi acknowledged Barcelona and expressed his desire for a different ending to his time at the club. Shortly after, there were rumors that he had met with Joan Laporta to discuss the possibility of a farewell match. However, Messi publicly refuted these rumors and accused Gerard Romero of spreading false information.
As it stands, Messi is still displeased with Laporta and his management, primarily due to the way he was treated when he left Barcelona in the summer. El Partidazo de COPE has reported on the significant rift between the two parties, describing it as “tremendous.”
This lack of harmony between Messi and Laporta could complicate Barcelona’s plans to invite Messi back to Catalonia for a farewell game. It was previously reported that Barcelona intends to host such a match once the Camp Nou renovation is completed. However, the current strained relationship between Messi and Laporta suggests that there is much work to be done before things return to normal.
The ongoing tension may have also played a role in the unsuccessful negotiations for Messi’s potential return to Barcelona this summer.