Víctor Font, a candidate for the Barcelona presidency, has attacked current president Joan Laporta, claiming that the Catalan club lost a legend like Lionel Messi because of him, despite the possibility of renewing his contract in 2021.
It is said that the Argentine star supports Font’s candidacy for the Barcelona presidency and opposes Laporta, evidenced by his surprise visit to Camp Nou without the club’s permission.
Font has consistently criticized the way Messi left, and this time he asserts that Laporta chose to secure the support of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in 2021 instead of keeping Messi.
In his controversial remarks, Font stated, “Barcelona could have kept Messi. We went into June with promises of a renewal, then the moment came and nothing happened. When faced with the choice between Messi and Florentino, he chose Florentino.”
He added, “Florentino thinks he’s running Barcelona, and that’s a huge risk.”
Regarding the possibility of Messi returning to Barcelona if Font becomes president, the potential candidate said, “The club needs to embrace Messi again. We have to understand what he wants and how he can be an active part of Barcelona’s future.”
It’s worth noting that Barcelona’s elections will be held between March and May 2026. Laporta won the previous elections at the Catalan club, also defeating Font, but this time it doesn’t look easy for the seasoned Catalan politician, especially after Font received support from legends like Xavi Hernandez.
