It’ll Always Feel Strange To See Messi Play For Any Other Club That Isn’t Barcelona – Laporta

Barcelona president, Joan Laporta has come out to admit that it is a strange feeling to see Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, because Messi has been identified with Barcelona for so many years, it will always feel strange to see him wear another club’s jersey on a football pitch.

Laporta, however, added that Barcelona will respect Messi‘s decision and wish him all the best.

His words, “It’s a strange feeling. We identify Messi with Barcelona. That’s the way I think most supporters see Messi, because most of his career has been at Barca. But we respect his decision and we wish the best for him. We want the best for our players. He came to Barcelona as a kid, 14 years old, and he spent 20 years with us. I hope he can be very happy in Miami.”

“It was very close. We had to manage our financial fair play situation so we needed time. At the end, we reached an agreement with LaLiga that authorised us to add him to the squad. But Leo was coming from a situation in Paris where he was under a lot of pressure. His father told me that he needed a place where he won’t be under pressure and at Barca that would not be the case because of the meaning of the return of our hero.”

“In Miami, it is different for him, it’s a new league for him, one that is improving and Messi can help with the developing of the league. With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba as well, maybe Luis Suarez. It will be very attractive for the fans in the United States. So he preferred to go to Miami. We respected it and understood his decision.”