Lionel Messi's chapter at Barcelona 'not over' - president Joan Laporta

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told ESPN that Lionel Messi's «chapter» at the club is «not over» and considers it his responsibility to ensure the forward has a «more beautiful ending» at the Camp Nou.

Messi ended his 21-year spell at Barca when the club could not afford to renew his contract last summer, with the forward subsequently joining Paris Saint-Germain, which he helped to the Ligue 1 title.

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«Messi was everything,» Laporta said exclusively to ESPN.

«To Barca, he's been possibly its greatest player, the most efficient. To me he's only comparable to Johan Cruyff. But it had to happen one day. We had to make a decision as a consequence of what we inherited. The institution is in charge of players, coaches.

»I would hope that the Messi chapter isn't over. I think it's our responsibility to try to… find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have, and that it has a more beautiful ending."

Laporta has previously spoken of his desire to return Messi to Barca, where he won the Ballon d'Or on six occasions, as well as holding the club's records for goals (672) and appearances (778.)

The Argentina forward has a year remaining on his contract at PSG, with the option of a further year.

«As president of Barca, I did what I had to do. But also as president of Barca, and on a personal level, I think I owe him,» he added.

On Friday, Barcelonasold a further 15% of their domestic television rights to the global investment firm Sixth Street, with sources telling ESPN the deal is worth around €320 million.

The move