Joan Gaspart, Barcelona's president from 2000 to 2003, has criticized Lionel Messi over the delayed farewell match at Camp Nou, warning the Argentine forward against conditioning his return on the departure of current club president Joan Laporta.
Speaking on the podcast "Solo Para Culés," Gaspart expressed concern that Messi might attach conditions to a tribute appearance. He stated he would not attend such an event if Messi made the club's leadership a prerequisite for his farewell to supporters.
"Who does he think he is?" Gaspart said of Messi. "He needs to be careful. Barcelona is above him."
Gaspart framed his criticism as coming from affection for the player, recalling his role in bringing Messi to Barcelona's youth academy at age 13. "I say this out of love for the player I brought in when he was 13 years old and I was president of Barcelona," he said.
The former president acknowledged Messi's exceptional status as a footballer while emphasizing the club's institutional primacy. "As a footballer, Messi is unquestionable, the best in the world. But there is something he must not forget, and that is that Barcelona is above him," Gaspart stated. "He is a great player, but he owes this partially to Barcelona. He must not forget that."
Gaspart stressed that Messi should return to bid farewell to supporters regardless of who holds the presidency. "Barcelona is much bigger than him," he said, adding a cautionary note: "He must be careful, he must be careful."
Messi departed Barcelona in 2021 after the club failed to reach an agreement with him at that time. He currently plays for Inter Miami. The tribute match, intended to honor his departure and legacy at Camp Nou, remains postponed.