'Who does Messi think he is?' Ex-Barcelona chief slams Argentine star over Camp Nou farewell row

Gaspart, who signed Messi for Barcelona when the Argentine was just 13, urged the 39-year-old footballer to set aside political differences and return to the club for an official farewell.

His remarks come amid reports of a strained relationship between Messi and current Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

'Barcelona is bigger than him'

Gaspart described Messi as one of the greatest footballers in the world but insisted that the Argentine should not allow personal or political differences to stand in the way of a farewell to the club where he spent the majority of his professional career.

"Leo is an undeniable footballer, the best in the world, and a great player. There is only one thing he must not forget: Barcelona is bigger than him, and he should be careful, he should be careful," Gaspart said, as quoted by NDTV.

"I say this out of the historical love I have for a player I signed when he was 13 and I was Barca president: he should be careful. Barca is bigger than him as an individual," he added.

Gaspart questions Messi's conditions for farewell

Gaspart also argued that Messi should not make his return to Barcelona conditional on Laporta's presence at the club.

Photo: Barcelona FC X handle

"Whoever the president may be, whoever the president may be, he must come and say goodbye to Barca. If Leo Messi only comes to say goodbye the day Laporta is no longer here, and refuses to come because Laporta is the president, I wouldn't give him a tribute. Who does he think he is?

"To make coming to Barcelona conditional on whether Laporta is there or not. If Laporta wasn't there (because of the condition), I wouldn't attend that tribute," Gaspart said, as quoted by the broadcaster.

The former Barcelona chief maintained that the club's institutional identity and legacy should take precedence over disagreements involving individual players or office-bearers.

Messi's Barcelona legacy

Messi joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, as a teenager and went on to become the club's all-time leading scorer.

He made his senior debut in 2004 and spent nearly two decades with the first team before leaving in 2021.

During his time at Barcelona, Messi won numerous major honours, including 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. He also won the Ballon d'Or multiple times while representing the Catalan club.

His departure in 2021 came amid Barcelona's financial difficulties, with the club unable to register a new contract for the Argentine under the league's financial regulations.

Messi subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer in 2023.

Messi-Laporta relationship

Messi's departure from Barcelona strained his relationship with the club's leadership, including Laporta, who had returned to the presidency earlier in 2021.

Although Laporta had expressed a desire to retain Messi, a contract extension did not materialise.

Messi later expressed disappointment over the circumstances of his exit and the failure to continue his career at Barcelona. He has since established himself at Inter Miami, while speculation about a ceremonial return to Camp Nou has continued.

An official farewell would provide Barcelona supporters an opportunity to honour one of the most influential players in the club's history. However, the timing and circumstances of any such tribute remain uncertain.