‘You Know You Can’t Leave’ – Laporta To Messi

The new chief takes over at a critical time for the Catalans, with their captain’s future a burning question at the club

New Barcelona president Joan Laporta made a direct plea to Lionel Messi to stay at Camp Nou as he celebrated his inauguration at the Blaugrana helm.

Laporta was sworn into office on Wednesday after winning club elections in a landslide, 11 years after leaving the post for the first time in 2010.

And predictably, the Argentine figured prominently in his opening speech to members at a time where his future at Barcelona is less than clear.