Joan Laporta: "I didn't know Messi was going to Camp Nou. My relationship with him is good."

BarcelonaJoan Laporta breaks his silence after Leo Messi's whirlwind visit to Barcelona and the new Camp Nou. The Barça president admitted he knew nothing about the legend's visit, but said that "Camp Nou is his home." "It was a spontaneous act, a true Barça gesture. I think it was a charming outburst," he said. However, in an interview with The morning of Catalunya RàdioHe confessed to not having sent him any messages after the visit and said that his relationship with him is "correct": "He plays for Inter Miami, but he will always be loved by all Barcelona fans." Regarding a possible tribute to the Argentine for the stadium's inauguration, Laporta has been open to it, although he assured that for the moment they are working to finish the construction. In any case, the president admits that the striker's departure from Barça "wasn't as I would have liked" but insists that he doesn't "regret it," since "nothing and no one is above Barça." Furthermore, regarding a possible return of the player to play for Barça, even if only for six months—and thus bring his professional career to a close—Laporta says that "making these speculations is not realistic." The interview took place at Camp Nou, the stadium that reopened its doors on Friday to host a first-team training session. "The third tier is progressing very well. It's expected to be operational at the start of next season." The first official match will be played much sooner. The club wanted it to be this November, but there are no guarantees, and that's why the president has declined to give any specific date. In any case, and despite the delays, he defended the choice of the construction company Limak and said he "would choose the Turkish firm again."

The other major topic of debate is the management of Lamine Yamal and the conflict with the Spanish national team. Laporta's version is that the doctor prescribed the treatment on Monday, and they informed the national team at that time. "We don't want any complications with them, but we're taking the best possible care of the player and we want him available. We have to focus on our own interests."

On the other hand, Laporta has admitted that relations with Real Madrid "are not good," which he attributes mainly to the Negreira case, in which the Madrid club has joined the prosecution. Also, regarding Real Madrid, which is on the path to becoming a public limited company, the Barça president has assured that while he is in the presidential box, this will not happen at Barça. "We are a Catalan institution, open to the world, with very clear values: to defend a country and a language. Barça cannot be reduced to a public limited sports company. The current board of directors is the guarantor of the ownership model."