Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists he is talking to Lionel Messi and again defended the World Cup winner's release to PSG.

Laporta also stated all outstanding money owed to Messi had been paid.

He began by trying to explain the departure again, justifying it through the bankruptcy of Barça: “I had to put the institution ahead of the best player in the history of football. In those moments of economic ruin in which we were..., it makes me sad not to be able to maintain him. But we were in financial ruin.

“As for Messi, as he is a PSG player, I prefer not to speak, and you have to respect me because otherwise there are missiles coming from all sides. What is certain is that Messi will form part of the club and what I would like is for him to have a different ending from the one he is going to have.

"There are several options, but if I talk about them… But yes, we are talking. He is not owed money it's all settled. Agreed."