Laporta warns Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona unless he’s reelected

• Joan Laporta has warned that Lionel Messi will go away Barcelona until he wins the upcoming presidential election.
• Laporta, who was the membership’s president between 2004 and 2010, will search re-election on March 7.
• “If I do not win, I’m certain that Leo is not going to keep at Barcelona,” he mentioned. 
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Joan Laporta has made a final ditch effort to spice up his possibilities of successful the membership’s upcoming presidential election by warning that Lionel Messi will go away FC Barcelona this summer season until he wins.

Laporta is searching for re-election having already loved a profitable interval on the membership’s helm between 2004 and 2010, throughout which era Messi made his debut. 

He’ll face off towards Toni Freixa and Victor Font on March 7, when Barcelona members will select a successor for Josep Maria Bartomeu. 

Bartomeu stepped down from the place in October following a tumultuous six years in cost which included “Barcagate” — through which he and different membership officers had been accused of launching a smear marketing campaign towards present and former gamers.

Earlier this week he was arrested as part of a Catalan police investigation, reportedly regarding “Barcagate.”

He additionally had a public spat with Messi, who almost left the club in the summer as a result.

Conserving the Argentine, whose contract expires on the finish of the season, on the Camp Nou is now the primary precedence for Bartomeu’s substitute — a job Laporta says solely he can full. 

“I’ve an awesome relationship with Leo and he’ll take into account no matter proposal I make,” said Laporta during a debate on Tuesday. “If I do not win, I’m certain that Leo is not going to keep at Barcelona. Messi will weigh up the supply we make him. 

“I am satisfied that if the opposite candidates win, Messi is not going to stay at Barcelona. He wasn’t glad throughout Freixa’s time on the board.

“He is not guided simply by cash. He desires a aggressive staff to win. I am certain he’ll take heed to my supply, simply as I’m [sure] that if another person wins he’ll go away.”

Messi handed in a switch request at Barcelona in August, shortly after the membership’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich within the Champions League quarterfinal. 

Manchester Metropolis, who’s managed by former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, and French large Paris Saint Germain are the favorites for Messi’s signature. 

Nevertheless, in December, the 33-year-old ahead additionally teased that he could be open to a shock move to the MLS.

“I want to play in america sometime, it is at all times been one among my goals,” Messi advised journalist Jordi Évole. “However I do not know if it would occur!”