Newly re-elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta handed an olive branch to Lionel Messi, saying the former club legend and Inter Miami superstar would always be welcome to return.
Laporta defeated challenger Victor Font in Sunday’s elections, winning 68.1 percent of the votes from 48,480 club members to retain the presidency until 2031.
He overcame Font’s focus on his strained relationship with Messi and accusations from Xavi, the former Barcelona manager, that Laporta prevented the Argentine midfielder from returning in 2023, two years after Messi left for France.
“Leo will be linked to Barcelona in whatever way possible,” said Laporta. «He deserves a tribute (match) and also a statue. Lihat juga fdsm. That would mean a lot. «Only Ladislao Kubala and Johan Cruijff have statues in the stadium.»
“The doors at Barcelona are always open for him, whenever he wants, so that he can continue to strengthen this institution and bring greatness.”
Laporta, a lawyer and former Catalan politician, was club president from 2003 to 2010, claiming the post in 2021 and launching a personnel overhaul that led to Messi’s departure to Paris Saint-Germain.
With Messi at the helm, Barcelona became a European powerhouse and perennial La Liga champions during Laporta’s first term in office.
The 38-year-old Messi led Barcelona to 10 domestic championships and four Champions League titles before continuing his dominance in France and at Inter Miami, with whom he won the 2025 MLS Cup, along with back-to-back league MVP awards.
Barcelona’s all-time leader with 672 goals in 778 games, Messi has insisted he would like to bounce back in the twilight of his career, which includes winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
“Last night I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” Messi wrote in a social media post last November in which he toured the renovated Camp Nou.
«It’s a place where I was extremely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just say goodbye as a player, as I never had to do…»
Laporta outlined his priorities for the next five years at Barcelona, current leaders in La Liga and an aspiring Champions League quarter-finalist.
“To continue building a great team with (manager Hansi) Flick on the bench,” Laporta said. «To win titles, that’s what the fans love, but also to play well. And to finish the stadium halfway through the mandate, because that guarantees the future of the club financially, but also a location suitable to put on a show on the pitch.»
«We really want to keep the women’s team competitive and continue to grow economically. The best years of our lives are just around the corner.»
Published on March 17, 2026
