Joan Laporta has expressed his desire to see Lionel Messi play again for Barcelona, but he stressed that the club are not willing to generate expectations about a possible return next summer.
Messi‘s contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs until the end of the season and, according to reports, the two parties are close to clinching a renewal deal.
The touching video published by Messi on social media after winning the World Cup
Meanwhile, the Barcelona president made clear that the club will not use financial levers to sign new players in the future.
“Yesterday we had a meeting with the media,” Laporta told Barcelona‘s official media.
“We had conversations in a relaxed tone. It is obvious that I would like him to return one day. I would love to, but we can’t raise expectations.
“He is a PSG player and has a contract with them. He has just won the World Cup. We are very happy for him.
“What I do not want is to generate expectations that is very difficult [to fulfil].
“The levers were made to save the club because it was in a very complicated situation.
“Now LaLiga has established limits to the levers. It would be possible to do one of these operations, but it wouldn’t be to sign a player.
“For us, he is the best of all time. We have had him here and he has become a player here.
“I am convinced that he, in his heart, is a Barcelona fan and will always be linked to Barcelona.
“We would very much like him to come back, but we’ll see.”
