Joan Laporta, FC Barcelona president, and the sporting director Deco recently unveiled Lionel Messi’s homecoming for a farewell match against Arsenal to honor his legacy at the club after the completion of the ongoing renovation at the Spotify Camp Nou.
In 2021, Laporta was elected as the president for the second term with Barcelona. He now intends to stand again for the presidential election after his current term ends in 2026, despite being charged with bribery accusations during his earlier tenure.
Joan Laporta eyes re-election
The current president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta has been involved in an alleged bribery accusation lately. The club is charged by Spanish prosecutors with bribery in relation to the payment made to the former referee chief, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreria, for exchanging information about match referees from 2001-2018.
Amidst the accusations, the 61-year-old remains firm in his stance to once again run for the presidential post at the Catalan Club. During the club’s general assembly, Laporta revealed he is considering another term in 2026.
Laporta said, “As long as I can and I can do it, I will do it and I will want to do it with this board of directors because they make an effort, they work and they are committed to the project. And then we’ll see. Whoever the members want to be president here ends up being president.”
“The history of Barça cannot be tainted. I am talking about the ‘Negreira case’. We cannot allow this unprecedented smear campaign. No matter how much they search and defame, they won’t find anything because we haven’t done anything of what we are accused of”, the president added further.
Laporta reveals two dates for Messi’s Barcelona farewell match
Recently, Lionel Messi shut down speculation about him playing on loan after the MLS season concludes or any further possibility of him joining his former club FC Barcelona on loan. The Spanish club confirmed that the World Cup winner will be returning to the city where he started his professional career to play in the inauguration of the newly renovated Camp Nou.
“We will be returning in November 2024, and that could also be an important date. Let’s see. We would like it, and I hope it can happen.”, he hinted regarding Lionel Messi’s possible return.
“If it were in June 2026, it would be when the Spotify Camp Nou is finished.”, he added.
As per his statements, Barcelona could host a farewell game for Messi either in November 2024 or in June 2026.
Joan Laporta had previously made a promise to the club supporters to re-sign Lionel Messi if he won the election in his presidential mandate in 2021. However, Messi had to leave the club due to financial fair play regulations as the club couldn’t offer him a new contract. Lionel Messi made a shocking exit to join Paris Saint-Germain.
