November 24, 2018, Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi
reacts during the Spanish league football match between Club
Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitano
stadium in Madrid. JAVIER SORIANO / AFP
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he was never
seriously worried about the impact on the league if Lionel Messi
had left Barcelona this summer.
Messi admitted defeat on Friday in his attempt to find a way out
of Barca, insisting the club’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu had
“broken his word” over an exit clause in his contract.
La Liga had previously intervened in the dispute by announcing
Messi’s 700-million-euro release clause still applied, a statement
later rejected by Messi’s agent and father Jorge.
Asked on Monday if Messi’s departure had been a serious worry
for him, Tebas said: “A serious worry, no. A worry, yes.
“We always want Leo to be with us, I’ve said many times he is
the best player in history and as president of La Liga, I would
like him to finish his career in this competition.
“La Liga has been working for quite a few years to ensure that
as a brand it is above individual players and clubs so the value is
not affected by one or two players.
“But there was some worry because after 20 years with us, you
want him to be here and not in another league.”
Liga speaking during the official launch of Spanish Football League
La Liga office in Singapore. ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP
Tebas also said Messi’s departure would not have affected La
Liga’s income from broadcast rights deals. “I don’t think so
because we have already sold 90 per cent of the rights for the next
four seasons, so I don’t think the departure of Messi would affect
that issue,” he said.
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– New season beckons –
The 2020/21 La Liga season begins on Friday, with Granada
against Athletic Bilbao.
But last year’s top four, including reigning champions Real
Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are all sitting out
the opening weekend.
They have been given longer to recover after their involvement
in last season’s European competitions.
Matches will still be without fans as Spain wrestles with a rise
in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.
La Liga had hoped stadiums would be able to take a small
percentage of their capacity in September but those plans have been
shelved.
“It is a difficult question because it’s not up to La Liga,”
said Tebas. “I believe that to see stadiums like before it can only
happen with a vaccine.
“I hope it can be in January or February. Several governments
have already announced it and that would be the beginning of the
end of this bad dream.”
The pandemic has had a huge impact on La Liga’s clubs, with many
suffering considerable financial losses from the lack of matchday
income.
Some of the biggest clubs have been the worst affected, with
Madrid yet to sign a new player this summer while Barcelona are
desperately trying to offload their most expensive assets.
Several teams have also had to quarantine players who tested
positive upon returning for pre-season.
“It will be a season of surprises,” predicted Tebas. “The big
clubs are suffering the consequences of the crisis while the not so
big ones, who depend more on television income, can make better
signings and make the league more equal. It will be very
interesting.”
AFP