At 39, Lionel Messi has just said goodbye to the Argentine selection with great fanfare. An XXL tribute that FC Barcelona supporters would also like to pay him. La Pulga has earned his reputation under the Blaugrana jersey, but he seems to have stubborn resentment. Pushed towards the exit in 2021 by Joan Laporta, the 2022 world champion refuses to return to see the culé club as long as its current president is in office. And for former club boss Joan Gaspart (2000-2003), Messi is pushing things too far. And he made it known in comments relayed by Sport.
“Leo, as a footballer, is the best in the world. There is just one thing that must not be forgotten: Barça comes before him. He better be careful, be careful! I say it out of love for this legendary player whom I recruited when he was thirteen and I was president of Barça. Let him be careful. Barça comes before his person. It is partly thanks to Barça that he became a great player, we must not forget that. I’m still giving him a little time, but a day will come when it will start to annoy me that Mr. Leo Messi does not have the slightest objection to coming to Barça to say goodbye to the fans. Whoever the president is. Whoever the president is! Let him come and say goodbye to Barça. Who does he think he is? » The message got through.
