Details from the Joan Laporta and Lionel Messi re-encounter

There was no photo. Not even a formal greeting. But the ice is already broken. Messi and Laporta coincided in Paris at 'The Best' gala. The Argentinian star received his second award. The Blaugrana president headed the Barça delegation that accompanied the women's winner Alexia Putellas. They did not speak. There was no time for a meeting. Too many people. Too much rushing. Too many commitments. But there were 'complicit glances' between the two that served to lighten the atmosphere. Nothing to do with the coldness of the recent past. 

The FC Barcelona president was seated in the front row, on the left-hand side, while Messi was in the middle right-hand side. Far away but close enough for there to be that exchange of gestures that denotes a profound change in the relationship between Laporta and the player.

The first step had already been taken last week, with the secret meeting between the player's father, Jorge, and Laporta in Barcelona. At that summit, the foundations for reconciliation were laid. That includes a well-deserved tribute to the best footballer in history. At no time was Messi's return considered. It is unfeasible from an economic point of view. The dream of Messi returning to wear the Blaugrana will only be possible in a hypothetical friendly match. That would already be a lot if we take into account his dramatic departure from Barça. 

The deep pain Messi felt when Laporta decided not to renew him on the grounds of the club's dire financial situation still exists. But the wound has begun to close. And that is the first step to getting Messi back home, where he should never have left. The cules need to pay tribute to him for his two decades of talent and titles. Messi made his first-team debut for the Blaugrana on 16 October 2004 in a derby against Espanyol at Montjuïc and played his last game for Barça on 16 May 2021 against Celta. 

It was a 17-year Blaugrana career with a total of 778 games played and 672 goals scored. A prolific period that ended with an extraordinary balance of 35 titles and a sad end that now, in some way, must be mended.