Not only is Laporta confident that Messi will sign with Barcelona as soon as possible, but also says that all transfers can be registered in La Liga.
Laporta made the statements as he introduced the new player Emerson at Camp Nou, saying: "Whenever I think of Messi, I dream sweet dreams every night. We are doing everything we can to reach Messi's contract. The negotiations went well and went according to our ideas. Messi wanted to stay, and I was grateful to Leo for staying. ”
In addition to Messi, Laporta also said: "Players we recruit on a level playing field can be registered, but we ask the league to have more flexibility like other countries so that we can bring in more players." ”
Asked about Griezmann's situation, his exit would be key to balancing wages, laporta said: "Griezmann is a great professional player. We are interested in the market, as before, and if he does not want to leave, we will fulfill his contract. ”
On the issue of negotiating salary cuts, Laporta said: "We are negotiating agreements with many players and we have seen them put the club above their personal interests and I would like to thank them. ”
Barcelona re-signEd Messi - did they make a mistake?
Messi will renew his contract with Barcelona for 5 years, but the club's financial problems are getting worse and players can't register, which means any new contract will come at a cost.
Messi has been a free agent since July 1, and for more than a month there has been no official progress on the player's future.
With Barca playing Real Sociedad at home in La Liga less than two weeks away, Messi is one of five players who cannot attend the team's opener as it stands, none of the four players who have arrived in the summer have yet to register in the league.
Eric Garcia, Aguero and Memphis Depay have all signed on a free transfer this summer, with Brazil international Emerson signing permanently after Barca bought out the €9 million they co-own with Real Betis.
Barca's current salary has exceeded their salary cap, which is the upper limit set in La Liga and all clubs must operate within the stipulated range.
La Liga audits the financial health of each club, setting limits to ensure that its growth and spending are sustainable and that all spending is in line with revenue.
According to The Athletic, Barca's salary cap this year is £138 million (€160 million). That's less than a quarter of the 2019/20 season, when salaries were £579 million (€671 million).
As things stand, Barcelona's operating numbers far exceed their current limits and they need to save €200 million before the start of the new season.
As the club was asked to cut expenses, Messi, Aguero, Memphis, Garcia and Emerson could not register.
According to Catalan media La Vanguardia, the club and Messi have signed a 5-year contract, and the structure of the contract is very careful.
The deal allegedly included a 50 percent wage cut from Messi's previous agreement, although no additional amounts and possible installment increases were listed.
The club has yet to sell any of last season's high-earning players or first-team players, while adding four new players to compete for the first-team spot – despite the need for significant funding cuts.
Earlier this year, Catalan media outlet La Vanguardia claimed the club's debt was "out of control".
After Bartomeu's board of directors collectively resigned last October, Tusquets, who served as Camp Nou's interim chairman, made no secret of the chaos behind the scenes.
Taskes even said the club should have converted Messi for cash last summer – which would incur a handsome transfer fee while also saving significant wages.
Taskes told Marca: "Economically, I will sell Messi last summer. This would have been feasible. For the transfer fees and wage savings that we could have received. La Liga requires a salary limit. ”
The opposite view is that, due to Messi's dual influence in business and sports, he will generate more money than he earns.
However, Messi is now 34 years old and a 5-year extension with Barca is a remarkable promise, in contrast to many clubs refusing to sign more than a year's contract with players in their 30s.
If he is asked to play more than 40 games per season, his physical limits will inevitably be pushed to the limit. His contract will continue to limit the club's performance in the transfer market, meaning any other team-mate is now likely to be transferred.
Barca are eager to sell their highest-paid players Griezmann, Coutinho, Umtiti... But no club is currently willing to pay the salaries of these players.
The other three highest-paid players at the club: Busquets, Alba and Pique, are all likely to end their careers at the club and remain in the first team.
The club needs to continue their rebuilding process and look to the future – De Jong, Pedri, Fati – they are Barca's future.