Barcelona dropped a bomb on Thursday by announcing that superstar Lionel Messi wouldn't be returning to the club because of financial issues. Friday, Barcelona president Joan Laporta opened up about the messy situation and explained why things went south with Messi.

Via ESPN:

“I don't want to generate false hope,” Laporta said when asked whether the situation was retrievable. “During the course of negotiations, we've known of other offers for Messi. There was a time limit, for us and for [Messi's camp], because they need time. The leagues are starting.

“The negotiations with Messi have ended and it's brought us here without an agreement because of the salary limit. Leo wanted to stay, so he's not happy. We all wanted him to stay, but now, like us, he is facing the reality of what's happened. A reality that can't be changed.”

The 34-year-old Messi had agreed on a new five-year deal with Barcelona, but the club couldn't go through with it. Laporta explained that he inherited a “train wreck” of a situation from previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu  and that LaLiga's rules have made keeping Messi too difficult.

Laporta said to keep Messi, Barcelona would have had to accept a deal proposed by LaLiga that would have seen 10% of the league's business sold to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners. Laporta thought this “would not be in Barca's best interests” and that it would have a negative long-term effect on the club. In the end, nobody is bigger than the club itself, even Messi.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas called out Laporta on Twitter for this outlook on the situation and tried to clarify what's going on. Barcelona is in a really messy financial state thanks to years of mismanagement, resulting in them losing the star they've had for 21 years.

Lionel Messi is now free to go anywhere, with rumors of a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain swirling.