Barcelona: New club president Joan Laporta vows to keep Lionel Messi at the club

The newly elected president of Barcelona football club, Joan Laporta, has said he will do everything possible to keep the club’s best player Lionel Messi at Camp Nou after being sworn in and also added that coach Ronald Koeman has the club’s backing.

Laporta governed the club previously, between 2003 and 2010, and was voted in by club members last weekend but had to secure a €125m bank guarantee before being inaugurated.

Now in office, high on his priority list is convincing Messi, who turns 34 in June, to extend his contract, which expires the same month, beyond the end of the season.

Messi, who wanted to leave last summer, joined in the voting proceedings during last Sunday’s election and was seated in front of Laporta as he made his speech at Camp Nou on Wednesday in front of around 300 invitees.

“I take the opportunity to say again that I will try to convince Leo (Messi) to stay with us. That is a must-do task, I will do all I can. He knows it.

“Whatever he does will be OK but we will try to make him stay because he is the best player in the history of football.

“And my apologies Leo, for saying this right here and right now, but you know of my love for you, Barca loves you a lot and if this stadium would be full when you play the next game I am sure you wouldn’t be able to leave.”

Laporta has returned to the club to help them overcome their niggling financial difficulties and also faces a daunting challenge keeping Messi.

“It is true that the economic situation of the club is the source of pre-occupation for all Barca associates and us as well and that is our priority,” Laporta added.

“To turn Barca economically viable again, that is why we have a shock plan we will implement. We know how to do it, it will mean making an effort and working a lot.

“Now that we have the power to make decisions we will try to generate new sources of income. We will try to make the right decisions to reverse the current situation.”