Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been urged to tell fans the “real reason” Lionel Messi left the club back in 2021.
Messi made an emotional secret return to Barcelona this week, with Laporta insisting the “Camp Nou is his home.”
Laporta also said he “doesn’t regret” Messi’s departure in 2021 and Xavier Vilajoana, former Barcelona board member and opponent of the Barca president, wants to know why the GOAT did leave.
“Messi’s departure was based on financial reasons. It was said that the club couldn’t afford the best player in the world. If the reason was financial, I don’t see it anywhere now,“ he told a press conference.
“I’ll end with a question: let Laporta tell us the real reason why Messi was let go.”
Vilajoana also criticised Laporta’s tenure at the club and says financial problems are still rife.
“If there isn’t responsible management, Barça has no future. In recent months, I’ve listened to the members. If the club belongs to the members, it makes no sense not to listen to them,” he added.
“They say they have saved the club, but if they hadn’t sold existing assets, they would have lost one billion euros, which is the current value of the first team.
“They’ve been lying and hiding the figures for four years. Barça is a serious club and should set an example. A president is given the responsibility to manage, not to take ownership of the club. The one billion figure is terrifying.”
