Joan Gaspart Slams Messi: Barcelona Is Bigger Than Anyone, Don't Delay the Farewell
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- Mantan presiden Barcelona Joan Gaspart mengkritik Lionel Messi karena belum menggelar seremoni perpisahan di Camp Nou sejak 2021.
- Gaspart menegaskan Barcelona sebagai institusi harus dihormati, terlepas dari siapa presiden yang menjabat saat ini.
- Ia mengancam tidak akan menghadiri acara penghormatan jika Messi baru bersedia datang setelah Joan Laporta lengser.
Former Barcelona President Joan Gaspart has aimed sharp criticism at Lionel Messi over the failure to hold an official farewell event for the star at Camp Nou. The 82-year-old believes Messi should not delay the moment of saying goodbye to the Blaugrana public, regardless of the political dynamics in the club's presidential seat.
Gaspart, who led Barcelona when Messi first set foot at La Masia at the age of 13, reminded that the Catalan club holds a higher standing than any individual. He highlighted Messi's tendency, as he described it, to make his relationship with the current Barcelona President, Joan Laporta, the main obstacle to the player's return to Camp Nou.
On the Solo para cules podcast, Gaspart expressed his frustration over the situation that continues to drag on. According to him, Messi must not forget Barcelona's major role in shaping his career into that of the best footballer in the world. He also warned Messi to be careful in handling this matter.
"Leo is an extraordinary footballer, the best player in the world. But there is one thing he must not forget: Barcelona is bigger than he is. He has to be careful," Gaspart said, as quoted by Goal.
Gaspart stressed that he is still giving Messi the chance to take the initiative. However, he admitted he would start to be bothered if the player keeps putting up obstacles to coming and saying goodbye to the fans. He even stated he would not attend a tribute event for Messi if the player only agrees to come after Laporta is no longer serving as president.
Gaspart's statement highlights the tension still hanging over the relationship between Messi and Barcelona's management after his departure. Since leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, Messi has indeed never had a proper farewell moment in front of Barcelona supporters. Yet he is the player with the most appearances and the most goals in the club's history.
For the Barcelona public, Messi remains an icon hard to forget. However, Gaspart's criticism shows there are big expectations that the player should not use the club's internal affairs as a reason to delay paying tribute to the supporters. Gaspart believes that whoever serves as president, Messi must still come and say goodbye.
"Whoever the president is, he must come and say goodbye to Barcelona. If Leo Messi only wants to come when Laporta is no longer in office and refuses to attend because Laporta is still president, I will not attend that tribute event," Gaspart asserted.
This statement also implies that Gaspart sees Messi as having forgotten the debt to the club that raised him. According to him, part of Messi's achievements cannot be separated from Barcelona's role, so it is only fitting that the player shows respect by not prolonging the polemic.
Going forward, Messi's stance will be in the spotlight. Will he soon hold a farewell event regardless of who leads Barcelona, or will he stick to his position? What is clear is that Gaspart has sent a firm message: Barcelona is not a club that can be controlled by one individual, even if that individual is Lionel Messi.
