Barcelona presidential candidate makes Lionel Messi transfer claim amid Man City interest

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has claimed that Lionel Messi needs to remain on the Nou Camp.

Messi rocked the footballing world in the summertime when he introduced he wished to depart Barcelona as a result of complaints over how the membership was run, with Manchester City being inserted because the instant favourites to signal him.

After weeks of untamed hypothesis, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner finally revealed he can be staying at Barca in spite of everything, with the intention to keep away from a court docket battle with the membership over a clause in his contract.

Messi’s relationship with the hierarchy in Catalonia has remained frosty at finest, with the Argentine being repeatedly vital of these in cost, and together with his contract expiring for good this 12 months, he may depart the membership for nothing in the summertime.

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Ought to he determine to depart then Metropolis will definitely be eager on bringing him to Manchester and the membership’s Chief Working Officer Omar Berrada confirmed to the M.E.N. in October that they’d have the ability to afford a transfer.

Nonetheless, Laporta believes that Messi truly needs to remain at Barcelona.

“Messi is now completely centered on catching Atletico Madrid in La Liga and enjoying the Paris Saint-Germain tie within the Champions League,” Laporta informed Sport.

“I have no idea if he shall be enjoying on Sunday [in the Supercopa de Espana final] however he shall be on the bench and it’s important that Leo encourage his team-mates.

“I see him increasingly more joyful, he’s having fun with it. I do know that he needs to remain and I do know that he’ll do every little thing in his energy to remain so long as the membership can supply him a proposal that fits him.”

Barcelona’s presidential election have been as a result of be held on January 24 however have been delayed till March due the coronavirus pandemic.