‘The relationship is strained’ – Joan Laporta reveals Lionel Messi snub at Ballon d’Or gala

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly acknowledged that his relationship with club icon Lionel Messi remains “damaged,” citing a pointed snub at the 2023 Ballon d’Or gala as the latest flashpoint between the two figures.

Speaking to Catalunya Radio, Laporta said he approached Messi at the Paris ceremony only for the Argentine to indicate that a greeting was inappropriate. “The relationship with Messi isn’t what it used to be,” Laporta admitted. “There was also an incident at the Ballon d’Or ceremony where I went to greet him, and he felt we shouldn’t greet each other.”

The president added that, while there has been “some rapprochement” since that evening, “the relationship is strained.” He nevertheless underlined Messi’s lasting significance to the club, calling him “a Barcelona legend.”

Laporta used the interview to revisit the circumstances surrounding Messi’s emotional 2021 departure, reiterating that LaLiga’s requirement to sign a 50-year commercial agreement with private equity group CVC was a non-starter for the club. “They wanted us to sign a 50-year agreement with CVC to register Leo. We couldn’t do it. The club is bigger than any individual. That’s what has saddened me the most,” he said.

The president framed the decision as a financial imperative: “These are difficult decisions. We couldn’t have it all. If we renewed his contract, we couldn’t afford his salary.”

Laporta’s comments come as he campaigns for another term in office; Barcelona members will vote on 15 March. With the election approaching, the state of his rapport with the club’s greatest-ever player is likely to remain a topic of intense scrutiny.

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