Víctor Font: "Messi would have stayed with us at the club"

MADRID, 28 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The former candidate for the presidency of FC Barcelona, ​​Víctor Font, was convinced that Lionel Messi would continue to wear the Blaugrana if he had won the elections last year instead of Joan Laporta because he recalled that they had a plan to reduce the salary mass of the squad and prevent his departure to PSG.

"We had a plan that reduced the mass during the first 100 days and with that - and with Messi's unequivocal will to stay - he would have stayed with us," Font said at a press conference where he wanted to be conciliatory with the player Argentinian.

"Regarding Messi's case, practically everything has been said. And looking back, I don't think it adds practically anything to us. Now we have to focus so that this link and strategic link between Messi and Barça is reinforced by how it had to come out, by the disappointment he had and because he is an asset to Barcelona fans even though he plays for a rival team. We will be supporting the president and his board if this is done," he said about building bridges with Messi.

Regarding Ousmane Dembélé, Font -responsible for the 'Si al futur' candidacy, made the "analogy of the 'Neymar case'". "During the campaign we were asked about Neymar and I knew that Xavi wanted him but I always explained that in a transfer the first thing is that he is in the hands of the sports structure, but then he has two other components," he pointed out.

"There is the institutional and the economic part and -for me- the institutional part eliminated the signing of Neymar from all, all of them. Well, the same thing happens with Dembélé. The club is above specific players, tactical needs and in this case the player has shown a lack of commitment that we cannot deal with," he added.

In this sense, Font said that Laporta has improvised in the matter of signings and "you make mistakes without meaning to." "Joining the club without a plan was suicide and now we are seeing constant swerves," Font pointed out, presenting a series of measures to "make a more transparent Barça, that continues in the hands of the members, more democratic, modern, independent, talented, with proven experience and with more guarantees".

In other questions, the ex-candidate for the presidency culé put the accent on the "social detachment" on the part of the fans, and in terms of signings he gave his opinion on Robert Lewandowski. "I think he's going to come," he finished.