Joan Laporta: “Lionel Messi will always be welcome at Barcelona”

Messi, 35, exited the Nou Camp to join PSG on a free transfer in 2021, calling an emotional end to his 21-year

career. With

’s contract with the Ligue 1 champions due to expire this summer,

insists the Argentine is always welcome by the club.

"

Leo knows that at Barca he always has his home,"

he told

.

"But let me not talk about Leo because he is a player of another team and we would enter again into a series of statements and counter-statements that would not benefit us at all. He has a current contract with a European club.

"I can only say that Leo has been the best player in the history of Barca."

The Catalan icon,

decided to end his career last week. On Pique's departure, Laporta added:

"Pique's departure has been decided by him. Motivated surely by a sports theme. If Gerard had had the confidence of the coach and played as an undisputed starter, he obviously would not have left.

"Pique has decided what he wanted to do and we, from the board of directors, respect it.

"Xavi has been very honest with him. From the first moment the technician told him that he did not count on him and I also commented with him about his situation.

"But Gerard is a competitive man, a winner, and he still saw himself as a starter and wanted to continue. Although in the end he has seen reality and made a decision.

"He has had a way of saying goodbye to the club, given the haste, very nice. We always want our heroes to be eternal but it is impossible."

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