Joan Laporta: 'Lionel Messi had to leave even with Antoine Griezmann exit'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said Lionel Messi could not have been retained even if Antoine Griezmann had left Camp Nou earlier in the window.

Despite agreeing fresh terms with Messi, the Catalan giants waved goodbye to their greatest ever player last month due to La Liga's strict financial rules.

Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, bringing an end to the Argentina international's 21-year association with Barcelona.

Barca have since managed to get some high earners off their books, with Griezmann the highest-profile departure on an initial loan deal back to Atletico Madrid.

A number of players have also taken pay cuts, but Laporta has insisted nothing could have kept Messi at Camp Nou this summer.

"There is objective data. Everyone can compare it. We were pressured that we would either sign the CVC loan [deal] or there is no fair play," he told Esport3.

"There was no margin. There was a pre-agreement [with Messi] and we had shaken hands. There were several agreements and La Liga seemed to accept it, but then they said no without CVC. We didn't think that the situation was going to improve and we put an end to it.

"Messi could not have stayed even with Griezmann's [departure] and with the salary reduction of the captains. But it is important that we have lowered the salary cap because next year we can be more ambitious.

"I think we were both sad because the situation was not what we wanted. I have not spoken with Messi since. I saw his debut with PSG and it was strange to see him at another team, rivals. I did not like seeing him in another shirt."

Messi made his debut for PSG as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 Ligue 1 win over Reims on August 29.