Joan Gaspart, former president of FC Barcelona, has asserted that the club’s interests supersede even those of Lionel Messi, the Argentine superstar who departed the team in 2021. Gaspart, who served as Barcelona’s president from 2000 to 2003, made the comments during a recent interview, offering a critical assessment of the club’s current state and praising the leadership of current president Joan Laporta.
Gaspart’s presidency, marked by significant investment in player acquisitions and the initial scouting of a young Messi, was “worn down by the results and the social climate,” according to reporting from El Periódico. Despite acknowledging criticism of his tenure, Gaspart remains closely connected to the club. He lauded Laporta’s recent sporting achievements, stating he would deliver Laporta’s performance a “10, or perhaps a 9 due to the fact that we haven’t won any Champions League titles.” He highlighted two La Liga titles, two Supercopa trophies, and two Copa del Rey wins under Laporta’s leadership, adding that Barcelona has consistently “been superior to Real Madrid.”
The former president specifically praised Laporta’s decision to hire coaches Flick and Deco, and emphasized the importance of Barcelona’s recent victories over their arch-rivals in Copa del Rey and Supercopa finals. Gaspart likewise voiced support for Laporta’s ambitious Espai Barça project, the ongoing redevelopment of the Camp Nou stadium. Even as acknowledging concerns about the project’s timeline, he defended Laporta’s courage in initiating the construction, stating that previous administrations had only produced plans and financing schemes without concrete action.
Gaspart addressed concerns about the club’s financial situation, clarifying that Barcelona has not mortgaged its assets despite taking on debt to fund the stadium project. He explained that the fresh stadium is projected to generate significantly higher revenues, justifying the investment. He also noted the transparency surrounding the controversial commission paid to Nike, stating that all payments were fully explained to club members.
Turning to the subject of Messi’s departure, Gaspart reiterated his belief that the club’s interests must always come first. “Messi, the president of Barça, the directors, the members or the people who love Barça as I do… we are all below the club,” he stated. He acknowledged Messi’s immense contributions to the club but emphasized the importance of prioritizing the institution itself. He suggested that Messi could potentially return to Barcelona in a ceremonial role, perhaps as an ambassador, leveraging his global recognition to benefit the club.
Gaspart also reflected on the circumstances surrounding Messi’s arrival at Barcelona in 2000, recalling that he “signed” Messi during his time as president. He credited Carles Rexach with convincing him of Messi’s exceptional potential, stating that Rexach saw in the young Argentine what he would become: the best player in the world. According to reporting from Infobae, Rexach was immediately impressed by Messi’s skills during his first training session, believing he had never seen a child of that age play with such ability.
Gaspart concluded by reaffirming the unique ownership structure of FC Barcelona, where the club is owned by its members, a tradition he believes will endure. He contrasted this with other clubs where individuals claiming to be “partners” are, in reality, merely fans.