Barcelona’s new president Joan Laporta stands firmly rooted in his belief that Lionel Messi is financially beneficial to the club, in his statement to Cadena SER’s ‘El Larguero’. This had been his stance even during his presidential campaign before he was officially elected, with Laporta believing that Messi’s reputation and brand identity held plenty of benefits for Barcelona.
When the details of Lionel Messi’s astronomical contract with Barcelona were leaked out earlier with immense scrutiny questioning the purported deals, Laporta remained resolute, maintaining that Messi earns the club far more money than he costs them.
The new returning president did not take well to spurious accusations arising then that Lionel Messi is ‘financially ruinous’ for Barcelona, stating even till now that he will do all that’s within his power to get the Argentine superstar to renew with the club, as one of his top priorities.
Barcelona need to consider all their options with the club undergoing the worst financial crisis in its 122 year history – from the signing of a top striker like Erling Haaland, along with the sales of players to addressing hardcore issues like a reduction of the wage bill all part and parel of their crucial agendas.
Messi’s contract renewal in itself would be massively pivotal in terms of revenue for the hard-hit club. Besides his spectacular resurgent form of late, he also looks a lot happier, a far cry from his earlier sullen disposition at the end of last season when Bartomeu ruled the roost. His long established earlier relationship with Laporta from the latter’s previous tenure at the club is also another key factor for continued wellbeing of the club with morales all around at Camp Nou much higher.
Clearly, as Laporta says, Messi’s influence and contribution are not just on the pitch, but are equally immense and extremely invaluable off it as well. The word that comes easily to mind would be priceless.
Should Messi renew and continue in his rich vein of form, he remains, as he always has been, Barcelona’s clear savior to lead the team to silverware, which would directly boost revenue even further. Daily, the optimism around the 33-year-old’s renewal is growing.
The coming month of April will be decisive with the El Clasico in La Liga as well as the Copa del Rey final looming ahead.
It may not be the much-dreaded “doomsday” after all when Messi’s deal runs out on the 30th of June.