Barcelona President Insists He Does Not Regret Allowing Messi to Leave

• Joan Laporta is adamant he made the right call allowing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi leave Barcelona
• Messi and Barcelona ended an almost two-decade-long professional relationship last summer due to the latter's inability to meet LaLiga's wage cap rules
• Since Messi's exit, Barcelona has gone from listless to spirited with ex-player Xavi Hernandez injecting a new found belief in the team

Barcelona chief Joan Laporta has disclosed despite Messi's departure from the Camp Nou being the saddest decision he has made; he does not regret making the call.

Messi and Barcelona shared an impermeable bond since 2001, when the Argentine playmaker joined the fabled La Masia - Barcelona's academy.

The marriage between the seven-time Balon d'Or winner and the Catalan giants was meant to last forever until reality hit Barcelona, when they had to part with their most prized asset due to financial constraints.

The Argentine forward ended up parting ways with the Blaugrana and joined French side Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, as the Catalan club had to comply with LaLiga's wage cap rules.

Camera captures moment PSG star charged at Lionel Messi for not tracking back to defend

Football

Reflecting on the difficult decision to let the 34-year-old leave the club, Laporta intimated it was difficult but does not rue his departure.

"It is the saddest decision of all," Laporta told Barcelona's official media as quoted by Marca.

He continued: "I would never have wanted to make it, but I am not sorry either because we had to put the club above everything, which is what we did, even ahead of the best player. The situation was what it was."

"We came up against reality. It seemed that afterwards there was nothing, but Barcelona's history continues and with work and good thought-out decisions we could return to the path of success, which is what we are doing." Laporta ended.

Messi could head to the USA after Beckham's Inter Miami confirm strong interest in Argentine superstar

David Beckham's Inter Miami have confirmed interest in signing Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain.

Cristiano Ronaldo treats Georgina to sumptuous dinner at exclusive Madrid restaurant after Watford draw

Football

The development was confirmed by Beckham's right-hand man at the Major League Soccer club, Jorge Mas.

Jorge, who co-owns Inter Miami revealed the prospect of Messi making a switch to the States to link up with them is a 'possibility.'