Lionel Messi Continues to Cause a Stir at Barcelona Five Years After Leaving

Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart admitted he “went too far” in castigating Lionel Messi for a perceived reluctance to return to his former club.

Gaspart—the man who was in charge of Barça when Messi signed as a 13-year-old back in 2000—called out the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner for not returning to Catalonia, suggesting the reason for Messi’s recent lack of recent association with the club that helped make him a superstar is an ongoing feud with current president Laporta.

There’s little secret that the relationship between Messi and Laporta was left damaged by the superstar’s shock exit summer of 2021, at the height of the club’s financial turmoil. At the time, the only farewell held was a press conference, where Messi made a tearful speech ahead of his exit.

Messi was not given the chance for a sendoff in front of the fans at Camp Nou and has only once returned to the stadium since—even that was under the cover of darkness when renovations were ongoing.

There have been rumours that Messi will not return to Barça for any kind of official reception until Laporta leaves his role as president—rumors that Gaspart amplified on a recent podcast appearance.

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