Barcelona vice president Jordi Cardoner says the club have taken the correct steps to ensure the side does not collapse when Lionel Messi eventually leaves. But he emphasised that the club were not yet preparing for a post-Messi era and said he expected the Argentinian to stay at the club for many years to come.
Speaking to Argentina’s Clarin, Cardoner added that the addition of Luis Suarez and Neymar meant that Barcelona’s “Messi-dependance is over”, and noted the difference between Barcelona and the likes of Napoli, who “suffered” after legend Diego Maradona left the club.
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"The Messi-dependence is over, Barcelona have been able to move on from that, something which for example did not happen at Napoli with Diego Armando Maradona,” he said. “When Maradona left, Napoli suffered a lot. We have the obligation as directors that the day Messi leaves, the team does not collapse. There was talk of the end of a cycle, but Luis Enrique innovated to reinvent the team and make Barca more vertical.”
“They said Neymar could not play for Barca, and he does. They said Luis Suarez should not join as Barca played with a false No. 9, and nevertheless, he does. We have managed an integration.", he added.
Barcelona obligated to bring the best players in the world to Camp Nou
Cardoner said the club had an “obligation” to keep the world’s best player at the Nou Camp and said he expected the superstar to be one of the few all-time greats to stay at the one club throughout his entire career.
“Barca have an obligation for the best player in the world to be playing at Barcelona, and we will never not have the best player,” he said. “Messi will be and already is the best player in football history and we are convinced he will be the only one of the greatest players to begin and end his career at the same club.”
While Messi has previously said that he would like to return to Argentina towards the end of playing career, Cardoner said he thought this was “unlikely”, though added that the player should not be “tied down”.
"It would be a freedom that all should have, nobody can ever be tied down to an obligation,” he said. “If he has made these comments, it is absolutely legitimate, but I am convinced that he will be at Barcelona until he stops playing."
Cardoner also claimed that Messi did not have a say in who the club brought to the Nou Camp, though said playing alongside Messi was an appealing prospect for many players.
"Lionel Messi is the biggest name in world football and for us he is the best transmitter of the values of our institution," he said. "These values are effort, sacrifice, humility and style. That allows Barcelona to get great players for less money than another club can offer. For example players like Neymar come to Barcelona as they know they can play with Leo, and want to play with him. The magnetism that he has as the world's best player does not bring just success on the field, but also in other areas."
"Barcelona have a process like any other company," he said. "Any signing is considered by the technical directors. It is not that they ask Messi or any other player, but we understand that new players must be well received by the group."
With Barcelona taking on Real Madrid during the Clasico at Nou Camp this Saturday, the Catalonian outfit will look to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table to 13 points.
