Javier Tebas has jumped in defence of La Liga’s decision to release a statement about Messi during his contract saga with Barcelona.
Javier Tebas has distanced himself with any personal issues against Lionel Messi, saying he greatly admires the Barca star.
Not many were pleased when La Liga intervened or tried to do so during La Pulga’s public spat with the Catalan giants.
Messi and Barcelona found themselves in total disagreement regarding the player’s situation.
The Argentine’s entourage felt there was a clause in his contract that could let him walk for free and still remained valid. On the other hand, Barcelona claimed it had elapsed and only a €700m release clause could see the player walk away.
La Liga tried to intervene by releasing a statement appearing to back Barcelona during the whole saga.
Messi has settled his grudges with the club and La Liga president Javier Tebas explains why the body had to do what they did.
“I didn’t have a war with Messi,” Tebas insisted in an interview with the Corriere della Sera.
“I admire him greatly.
“He has made history in our football these past two decades, so how could you go to war with him?
“All I want is for contracts to be respected.
“It’s clear that, with Messi, the situation had major reach in the media.
“Yet I’d have taken the same approach with Pepito Perez [Joe Bloggs] or any other player in LaLiga.
“As a league, we have to defend the legality of the contracts, whether your name is Messi or Pepito Perez.”
Tebas was asked about the possibility of the Barca captain departing next summer.
“That would be a shame, but the LaLiga brand has been built above players and clubs in the past few years,” he said.
“But, of course, anyone would prefer to have Messi in their league.”
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about La Liga
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
