Barça's Messi heartache lives on as election hopefuls play the Leo card
Presidential candidate Marc Ciria stirs the pot with Messi billboard reminiscent of Laporta's famous Madrid stunt, but the Argentine legend remains focused on his playing career.
Barcelona’s wounds from Lionel Messi’s departure remain raw, with the club’s upcoming elections bringing the Argentine’s exit back into sharp focus.
Election tactics get Messi
The loss of Barcelona’s greatest ever player continues to sting at the Camp Nou, particularly as the club enters another presidential election cycle. Joan Laporta, who famously promised he alone could keep Messi at the club during his successful 2021 campaign, has found himself on the receiving end as opponents use Leo’s exit as a political battering ram.
Marc Ciria, one of the candidates hoping to take the big chair in March’s elections, has played the Messi card in spectacular fashion. The hopeful businessman has erected a massive billboard in Barcelona featuring the iconic image of Messi displaying his number 10 shirt, accompanied by the slogan: “Looking forward to seeing you again”.
History repeating
Ciria’s billboard strategy isn’t exactly breaking new ground in Barça election theatrics. He’s clearly taken inspiration from Laporta’s own campaign playbook five years ago, when the current president hung an enormous banner in Madrid with the message “Looking forward to seeing you again” - a cheeky dig at Real Madrid that generated massive publicity.
Leo keeping his distance
Despite candidates dropping his name left, right and centre, Messi himself has no intention of getting involved in Barcelona’s political circus. Sources close to the player confirm:
- Leo plans to return to the club someday, but not while his playing career continues
- The upcoming World Cup remains his primary focus
- He will remain neutral throughout the election campaign
The Argentine maestro is keeping his distance from the dog and bone show, focusing instead on his current footballing commitments while Barcelona’s presidential hopefuls continue to trade on his legacy.