Laporta and Messi's future in Barcelona: 'The new contract is going well, but it is not done'

05/28/2021 8:26 AM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 05/28/2021 8:44 AM

The president of FC Barcelona, ​​Joan Laporta, acknowledged this Friday that he still did not ensure the renewal of Lionel Messi, although he was optimistic in being able to reach a successful conclusion before June 30 and achieve the permanence of his franchise player.

"

The new contract with Messi is going well, but it has not been done

. We have to continue working. The perception is very good, Messi loves Barça, and although we know that he is a coveted player for his talent, we have the perception that among all of us, from Messi's band as well as from Barça,

we are preparing everything that is necessary for Messi to continue at Barça,

"Laporta said at a press conference.

Although he believes that Messi

"deserves much more"

than they can give him, due to the club's economic situation, he has "moderate optimism" about his continuity.

The president of FC Barcelona, ​​Joan Laporta, during the press conference offered this Friday to review the current situation of the Barça entity.

Photo: EFE / Andreu Dalmau.

"Because of his desire to make Barça great, I am convinced that he is highly appreciating the effort we are making. And I think he is very excited about the project and to continue.

Leo's is not a matter of money, it is a matter of have a team to win everything and we are doing everything to achieve it

", he valued.

"The first thing he asks is affection, to be comfortable. To smile again. And to have a good time he has to see that he can win. It is what he has in a process of reflection, but he is putting a lot on his part, because he knows the effort What we are doing. You note that Messi wants to be comfortable, "he appealed.

In addition, Laporta believes that he has, personally, weight in the choice of Messi.

"The players enjoy going to train while being comfortable with the president, board of directors, surroundings.

Leo, especially, is a man with a lot of character, a lot of personality, he has matured a lot and is making great efforts to assess our proposal

. Before there was another president and now I am here, and I think he likes this ", he was sincere.

Messi in training for the National Team.

Photo: Tato Pagano / AFA Press

"

With the previous president he was disappointed

, and now there is a president who wants him to continue and I tell him and I show him. Messi wants Barça to think big. When we talk about a competitive team, it is not a cliché and you have to demonstrate. He wants proven experience, and with me as president he has it. Leo's perception is this and that is why he is helping us. If he saw that there is conformity, that we do not care about everything, that affects him and he sees everything. , the changes are there, "he said.

On the other hand, he assured that the future of Ronald Koeman could be clear shortly, since they have been summoned to continue evaluating what has been done and what to do in the future. "

We have respect for Koeman

for having won the Wembley final and for being a professional who does his job and has a current contract. We said that at the end of the season we would meet to assess what we have done and what to do for the future, because there is no transitional seasons. We have arranged to meet next week and clarify these issues, "he clarified.

"Out of the respect we owe to Koeman and for being in talks with him, we have met in a week, he has a current contract and

do not rule out Koeman, because we are talking with him about sharing objectives and criteria

. Ronald gives the profile of what we are looking for and the relationship is very good. But we need a period to unify criteria, "he clarified.

The current coach of FC Barcelona, ​​the Dutch Ronald Koeman, after the meeting he had with the president of the Barça club, Joan Laporta.

Photo: EFE

Laporta did not deny a Dutch journalist who, in his question, assured that sources present at the meeting assured that the president commented the following to the coach:

"You are not my favorite coach, give me time to find a replacement. If I cannot find him. , you will continue "

.

And Laporta assured that "yes" it is possible to continue with Koeman after this talk.

"Ronald is a coach that we did not put, and we need these conversations to know that we share what I want the team to be, very competitive. Everything is evaluated and is being done normally and I think he is on the right track. Who will know first our decision will be Ronald. But I think we are approaching many positions and there are many others that are already approximated, "he said.

Of course, despite winning the Copa del Rey, he

believes that there are changes to be made in the team and, in this sense, he pointed out that there will be announcements of signings shortly

.

"What has been happening in recent years cannot happen, which is lost and nothing happens. Losing will have consequences, and the squad will have to be improved. We are working hard on this. Next week we will be announcing new additions. for the first team, "he announced without naming names.

Source: agencies