Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has looked into PSG’s irregular financial fair play record after the club’s public lawsuit against Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona talisman has entered the final six months of his Camp Nou contract, and after applying for a transfer last summer but ultimately failing to force a move, he could now leave the Catalan club for free in the summer of 2021.
European heavyweights PSG have often been linked with a move for Messi and are said to be one of the few world football clubs with the financial capacity to secure a deal for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Speaking to France Football earlier in January, sporting director Leonardo stirred the pot of speculation again, saying: “Great players like Messi will always be on the PSG roster.”
Laporta is running for the Barcelona presidency for the second time in March, after overseeing Pep Guardiola’s glory years at Camp Nou. His existing relationship with Messi has been at the forefront of his election campaign – and he has made a sly dig into PSG’s FFP past following their public interest in the Argentine.
“I find it inappropriate,” Laporta told L’Equipe. “It shows their lack of experience at this level. They still have a lot to learn in the world of football. I don’t know if this reaction is instinctive or if it is a communication error. For my part, I have always respected others. clubs.
“I don’t know if they can sign it. Maybe yes if they continue to break the rules of financial fair play… from what I know they had big losses last year. I’d be curious if they’ll ignore FFP’s rules to recruit him.
“If that happens, I hope that UEFA and FIFA react strongly and that the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not hold back when it comes to delivering its verdict.”
