Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo recently fueled the speculation regarding the club’s possible pursuit of Lionel Messi, which one Barcelona presidential candidate is not particularly fond of.
Leonardo is well-known for voicing his unfiltered opinions regarding matters within the club. And in a recent interview with France Football, Leonardo touched on the recent rampant rumors regarding whether PSG has plans to make an attempt to sign Messi over the upcoming summer transfer window.
Instead of downplaying the rumor or ending speculation, Leonardo noted that Messi is on the club’s “list” of possible transfer targets.
This did not please Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta.
For Laporta, he is once again in the running to become Barcelona’s club president. Among the tasks that he aspires to accomplish if he wins the upcoming election is to keep Messi at the club.
Laporta is not very well appreciative of the fact that Leonardo is publicly talking about the possibility of a Messi transfer. The Barcelona presidential candidate hit back at Leonardo in a recent interview with the Spanish-based station TVE (via RMC Sport).
“I read that PSG had losses, and we are already talking about the few recruitments they could make,” Laporta said. “I would like to say that if we have to be respectful, we also ask PSG to be respectful with Barca, and to do not try to destabilize us.
“We haven’t done anything to make them say they plan to sign Messi, while we’re in the middle of the season. I don’t think that’s fair. They could have kept quiet.”
Both Barcelona and PSG have a long history off of the pitch. From Barcelona’s rumored attempt to sign Marco Verratti to the multiple Neymar transfer sagas over the years, these two powerhouse clubs sure would like to ease tensions for the moment.
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