There was a tense atmosphere around the Barcelona training complex on Friday morning, the television channel writes Cuatro. When Antoine Griezmann drove up to Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, a fan in attendance accused him of ensuring that Lionel Messi did not stay. “Messi is leaving because of you”, someone shouted at him. A group of supporters would have booed Griezmann.
It is a painful accusation for Griezmann, which, according to chairman Joan Laporta, is anything but true. The chairman made it clear at a press conference on Friday morning that Messi would like to stay, but that it was financially unfeasible to offer him a new contract. Both sides agreed to a five-year deal, but the club’s total salary costs could not be reduced enough to comply with LaLiga rules.
Griezmann, abucheado por los aficionados: “Messi se va por tu culpa” pic.twitter.com/WIFaePYGo2
— vidfooty (@vidfooty1) August 6, 2021
In Spain, there is regular speculation about the relationship between Griezmann and Messi, which would be problematic. His uncle and former agent Eric Olhats fueled those rumors in November 2020 by criticizing Messi’s behavior in the dressing room, but Griezmann quickly distanced himself from those statements. Opposite L’Equipe he assured earlier this year that he has a good relationship with the star player. “We get along well. Sometimes we send each other messages and we communicate a lot on the training field. He is of course a very pleasant player to play with.”
When Laporta arrived at the training complex on Friday morning, a group of supporters present ran to his car to speak to him about the situation surrounding Messi. Beginning at 11 a.m., the president gave a press conference on the situation. He reiterated his opposition to LaLiga’s plans to partner with investment fund CVC Capital Partners, which is willing to invest €2.7 billion in the league in exchange for ten percent of the shares. That deal would have allowed Barcelona to continue with Messi for longer, but Laporta was unwilling to make that sacrifice. Laporta does not count on the Argentinian being able to be admired in the Barcelona shirt after all.
???? IMAGE #DEPORTESCUATRO ?? Primeras images de Joan Laporta tras el adios de Messi. El presidente del Barça da la cara a las 11 en el Camp Nou ?? @DavidIbanez5 https://t.co/yLIvkXLyR1 pic.twitter.com/77hkNsklCE
— Deportes Cuatro (@DeportesCuatro) August 6, 2021
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