Laporta: Messi and Iniesta could re-join Barcelona
Carlo Garganese
- 17 Nov 2021 20:41 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has refused to rule out the possibility of legends Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta returning to the club as players.
Laporta was speaking on the day that another Barcelona legend, Dani Alves, was officially presented as a Blaugrana player again.
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Dani Alves signed for Barca as a free agent last week after the rescission of his contract at Camp Nou.
Despite turning 38, he is the first signing by new Barcelona coach Xavi and will be eligible to play from January 2.
But Laporta says that Dani Alves may not be the only Barcelona great who could return to the club.
When asked if Messi and Iniesta could join the Brazilian back at Camp Nou, Laporta did not rule out the possibility.
What did Laporta say about Messi and Iniesta?
"I don't rule anything out," Laporta told reporters. "It happened with Dani, age is just a number. They're two great players.
"I can't predict what will happen tomorrow, they're still playing and are contracted to other clubs. You never know."
Messi left Barcelona in dramatic circumstances this past summer in order to join PSG on a Bosman transfer.
✅ Dani Alves
⏳ Lionel Messi
⏳ Andreas Iniesta
Joan Laporta hasn't ruled out resigning Messi and Iniesta 👀 pic.twitter.com/RjpvI5ajhH— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 17, 2021
The Argentine had wanted to stay but Barca were unable – due to legal and financial reasons – to register his new contract.
Messi is now 34 and has had a difficult start to life in Paris, failing to score a single goal in Ligue 1 – although he has struck three times in the Champions League.
As for Iniesta, the Spaniard is three years older than Messi at 37 and is now plying his trade in Japan.
Iniesta left Barcelona in 2018 to join Vissel Kobe and his contract with the club expires in 2023 having signed a new deal earlier this year.
Iniesta, Messi and Dani Alves were all part of Pep Guardiola’s legendary side that famously claimed the treble in 2009.
