‘Remorseful’ Barcelona President Joan Laporta Finally Takes Responsibility for Leo Messi’s Departure

• Barcelona boss Joan Laporta has confessed to his 'irresponsibility' in Lionel Messi's departure from La Blaugrana in the summer of 2020
• Laporta claimed he would meet Messi in Paris, as Barcelona try to re-sign the superstar when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires
• Talks of a possible reunion have swelled following Messi's inability or reluctance to renew his current deal, set to expire at the end of the current campaign

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has taken responsibility for Lionel Messi's departure from the club, nearly two years after the superstar left the Catalan giants.

Laporta promised to keep Messi as part of his campaign message during the Barcelona presidential elections, but failed to honour his pledge as the Argentine emotionally parted ways with La Blaugrana.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner brought his stint of more than two decades with Barca to an end, leaving in the summer of 2020 on a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

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Reflecting on the exit of the 35-year-old Argentina maestro, Joan Laporta disclosed how Messi's departure affected him both personally and at an institutional level.

“A lot. At an institutional level, it represented something we did not know how to solve well," Laporta told El Tempo as quoted by Tribuna.

Laporta then took responsibility for Messi's departure even as he admitted there were not many options to him at the time. He also stated that as a club, Barcelona could have dealt with the situation better.

“On a sporting level, having a player as talented as Leo Messi is always very good; he is the best player in the world.”

Messi meanwhile, who appears to have rediscovered his mojo after his first-season blues in Paris, will lead Argentina in their bid to win their third World Cup title in Qatar.

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La Albiceleste have been drawn in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Barcelona president to meet Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Messi could be set for a memorable reunion with Barcelona, barely two years after leaving the La Liga giants to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2020.

The 35-year-old Argentine icon is set to become a free agent in the summer when his current PSG contract expires, and Barcelona has not hidden their intentions to bring him back to Camp Nou.

According to Sportskeeda, Laporta is set to hold a discussion with Messi after confirming he would be meeting with the PSG forward in Paris.