Joan Laporta has left the door ajar as he believes that club legend, Lionel Messi, will return to the club before his retirement.
One word best describes the situation at Barcelona this season - desperation. Josep Maria Bartomeu did a number on the club, leaving it in their worst state in decades. Joan Laporta is responsible for restoring the club to its glory days, and it is no easy task, as the Catalan has found out.
With finances in the red and next to no wriggle room, it is nothing short of a miracle what Laporta is doing. Despite steadying the boat a little, there is still a long way to go, but the belief to reach a certain level is immense, while sympathy and support is not in short supply.
In getting the club back to what it used to be, Laporta seems to be reaching out to remnants of their glorious past. Laporta brought back Xavi as the team manager, which might yet turn out to be a masterstroke, but reaching for playing personnel like Dani Alves and Iniesta might at best be grasping at straws.
Laporta pines for Lionel Messi return
The terrible situation that Barcelona find themselves in has left their fans In severe pain, with the only consolation being holding on to the glory days.
The feats of Lionel Messi at Barcelona are immense, and the general belief among Barca fans was that the Argentine would retire at Barcelona. Seeing him wear the jersey of another club is like a dagger to the heart. They can only pine, like one in an abusive relationship would do, seeing her lover leave for the warm embrace of another woman.
Laporta has left an opening, hoping that someday, like a long lost lover, Lionel Messi would return to the club where he made his laudable achievements. As cited by ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens, Laporta has not given up hope of seeing Messi and Andres Iniesta having one last dance in the rain with Barcelona.
The return of Dani Alves to Barcelona has given rise to a surge of hope that there could be a mini-reunion on the pitch by Messi and Iniesta.
Ronaldo inspires Messi, Iniesta return
Lionel Messi joined PSG, with many believing it was for one last paycheck. Barcelona fans see his return to the Nou Camp in a playing capacity as outlandish.
Going by what Cristiano Ronaldo has done by returning to Manchester United, it no longer looks like a crazya. The Portuguese returned to United, where he won his first UEFA Champions League to help the club back to the top. At 36, the goals haven’t dried up as he has scored some critical goals this season.
At 34, there is room for Messi back at Barcelona if their financial situation permits it.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
