In an Auditori 1899, the room that the club reserves for big occasions, packed to the brim and with sensational media expectations, Joan Laporta came out at 11.05 am to give the explanations he owed to the world about Leo Messi leaving FC Barcelona. The president spoke for an hour and a quarter answering all the questions that were wanted to be asked, but he began with a previous presentation.
“I come to explain why we have reached this situation. Unfortunately we have received a disastrous inheritance and the sports mass represents 110% of the budget. We have no margin. We knew it since we arrived at the club, but we have found ourselves in a much worse situation than we expected and what we had been told. The losses are much higher, the debt, the same. LaLiga's Fair Play did not allow us to fit in Messi's first contract, ”he began.
Added that “I am not willing to mortgage Barça for 50 years, because Barça is above all, even above Leo Messi, to whom we will be eternally grateful. Renewing Messi entailed certain risks, which we were willing to take, but it was risky. Leo wanted to stay, we wanted him to stay but we had to leave the emotions out, be cold and we have to abide by the LaLiga rule, which could be more flexible. I am sad, but happy because I think we have done the best for the club ”.
What legacy does Messi leave?
It has been the best, the benchmark of the best stage in the club's history. Samitier, Kubala Johan, Messi. It has been a reference and has generated a collective illusion and images for history.
Is this situation irreconducible?
I don't want to create false hopes. The player has other proposals. There was a time limit. It takes time. We reached an agreement to pay in five years. Has put facilities. We wanted the post-Messi stage to start in two years. From LaLiga it was convincingly hinted to us that it could enter the parameters, but then they told us no. He would have entered if we accepted an operation that did not interest us.
Are there players who have not lowered the salary bill?
The ratio in which we moved was four to one. For every 25 million that we spent, we had to spend 100. This operation is not easy. We could take other measures, but they are not guarantees of anything. There are players who enter like Kun or Memphis because they accept very favorable conditions.
Can the squad be reinforced?
I will not generate false hopes. The negotiation has concluded and now we have no salary margin. But we are more motivated than ever. From the coach to the players passing through the board, we know that we will be required to continue having success. The moment is one of sadness and disappointment, but we have made the decision because Barça is above everything. We've been through everything and we've always come through.
Do you feel that you have failed Barcelona?
Absolutely. I said we would do our best to keep it going. We reached an agreement that we could not formalize because there is no salary margin. I do not like to look for guilty and I do not like to be repeating loo of the nefarious inheritance received. It is true that everything was progressing properly, but
We are at August 6 and the market closes on August 31. Wasn't there time to force the exit of other players such as Griezmann, Umtiti, Dembélé, Coutinho … or was it just a matter of accepting that blackmail that suggests accepting the CVC fund or not being able to register to Messi?
You say it about blackmail. The agreement with CVC did not fix the issue for us either, but there were a series of contracts that could not be broken unilaterally. Regarding the calendar, we could not extend the agony, we have the Gamper, LaLiga begins and it is true that he also needed to have a margin. This involves a before and an after and it has gone two years ahead
When do you decide?
Two days ago I came to the conclusion that this was not enough for more. It has been two very intense months
What is the sports situation?
There is a small margin to look for solutions, but we continue to have a problem of wage bill. Even with Leo we have no margin. Without it, the ratio of four to one follows.
Have you seen Messi, how is he?
He wanted to stay, so he is not happy. He faces reality like us. A reality that cannot be changed. He knows that I wish him and his family the best. Barça will be his home.
Did Jorge Messi ask for something unaffordable?
His way of acting throughout the negotiation has been impeccable. They have not asked us for anything that would not enter into the logic of a negotiation. There has been nothing that made the contract impossible.
What have you explained to the captains?
I wanted to tell you that we all expected him to train again, but that will not happen. I have informed them of this situation and I have asked them to win without Leo, to have the maximum commitment and maximum competitiveness. I have asked the captains for maximum involvement, to give a plus of themselves. There has to be more team atmosphere than ever.
Will the four signings be able to register?
By our calculations, yes. I hope there are no problems. I want to thank the effort that all four have made.
To what do you attribute that there has not been a salary reduction in the Barça dressing room?
We will close last season with losses of more than double those expected. We are hopeful of recovery because we speak with interested sponsors. We have many avenues to generate income without having to mortgage the rights of the club.
Can you advance something of the audit?
In due course we will make them known to the partners. Now and here it does not seem like the right moment, but the situation of the club as a result of the disastrous inheritance has led to situations like Messi's. , but the losses will be over 487 million
Is there an act of tribute planned?
The act that Leo wants will be done. I would pay him a tribute every day. The sanitary circumstances now make it complicated.
Do you know the interest of PSG and where would you like to see him?
I would just like to see him at Barça. Certainly, I am not aware of the interest of PSG.
Did the player and his father travel to sign?
We knew in the parameters in which we moved. The five-year contract could only fit if (we accepted the agreement with CVC) and if we look at the dates, it coincides with what happened two days ago.
Is the template closed?
No. This ends on August 31 and a lot can happen.
Does Tebas say that the CVC contract does not mortgage Barça's rights?
Hi Javier. We do not interpret it that way. There was a conversation between our senior executives and those who run this operation and there are risks that I do not intend to give up. I don't want to mortgage a part of Barça's audiovisual rights. Also, dear Javier, the amount of CVC is much lower than what LaLiga is worth.
How do you interpret the silence of the squad?
They are affected and it is not what they expected, but I see them compromised. What we are going to demand is a lot of professionalism.
What impact does Messi's departure have at the sponsorship level?
We have to live a new reality, the sponsors are always delighted with Messi.
How is Koeman?
He is a club man, a great professional who is not up for contemplation. Losing a player who scores 30 goals per season is tough, but I see him very motivated.
What are the culprits of this situation?
The basis of everything is the dire management of the previous board. We have not encountered true black holes.
Do you think you can go play in America?
This you have to ask him. He has offers because he is the best, we made him the best possible offer. We even went beyond what we could.
If the LaLiga assembly approves the contract with CVC, are they obliged to fulfill it?
The answer is in the air. I think Madrid is threatening a lawsuit. And we'll see what happens. We can object to the agreement. We cannot accept money that affects us in the future. If we see that it affects our rights negatively, we can fight for them.
Was Messi asked to charge a symbolic amount like Pau Gasol did?
He has done his best to stay, really.
