Former Spain International Santiago Canizares Criticizes Barcelona’s Courtship of Lionel Messi

WHAT HAPPENED? Former Spain international Santiago Canizares has criticized FC Barcelona’s courtship of Lionel Messi as half-hearted. The longtime keeper of FC Valencia believes that the club leadership around Joan Laporta did not want to sign the newcomer from Inter Miami.

WHAT WAS SAID? Canizares, who frequently played against Messi during his career, said on the podcast Wake up San Francisco: “Messi and Barcelona, ​​it’s a farce beyond compare. Even if he had wanted to return, it wouldn’t have been a wise decision. They would have wanted to make him the Messi he was ten years ago.”

Then he shot at President Laporta: “I know that Laporta and Messi don’t have the best relationship. For him it would have been pointless to get someone more charismatic and popular. It is dangerous to sign someone who is more than one footballer.”

Nobody in Barcelona dares to “speak badly about Messi”. Therefore, Canizares believes: “I guess Barcelona made little effort to sign Messi.”

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND? Messi is leaving PSG on a free transfer this summer. Barcelona was considered to be very interested, and club officials have commented accordingly on several occasions. Coach Xavi also had several conversations with the 35-year-old superstar.

However, financial problems continue to plague the Blaugrana and Messi says he didn’t feel that a return to his old place of work was “possible”. So he opted for a transfer to Inter Miami.

THE PICTURES FOR THE NEWS:

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THE REACTION: Barcelona responded with a taunt on Messi’s choice, releasing an official statement that said: “President Laporta understands and respects Messi’s decision to play in a lower-demand league that doesn’t get as much of the spotlight and puts less pressure on him lasts longer than he has experienced in recent years.”