Joan Laporta, the Messi return, and the truth that makes Tebas squirm

What a night, folks! Spanish football is a powder keg, and the fuse has been lit again by, you guessed it, the name Leo Messi. So, Xavi was having one of his chats and casually mentioned that LaLiga had already given the green light for the number 10's return. My jaw dropped, because that's a huge claim. But as expected, the cat was soon out of the bag: Javier Tebas, the big boss of LaLiga, has flatly denied that any such authorisation exists. And right in the middle of this earthquake, one name looms above all others: Joan Laporta. The president, the leader, the man who always dances on the edge of the precipice.

To understand this saga, you have to look at the man, but also at the family name. Because this isn't just about Joan Laporta i Echevarría, that fiery lawyer who presided over Messi's first golden era. The whispers in the Camp Nou offices also point to his inner circle. His son, Guillem Laporta i Echevarría, is being seen more and more around the training ground, and although he holds no official position, everyone knows the father listens to the son. Did Guillem influence the decision to go all-in for Leo? Who knows, but in this club, family branches have always been a talking point.

And then there's the chapter of old allies. Laporta isn't building this alone. In the shadows, pulling strings, the ghost of those who accompanied him in his early days always appears. I'm talking about Joan Saura, a former club executive and a trusted confidant in other times. Although their paths have now diverged, Saura knows the ins and outs of the club's membership like no one else. And rumour has it, word on the street is, that even he is surprised by the masterstroke Laporta is preparing. Because this, gentlemen, is about seducing the fans while scraping together the millions demanded by financial fair play.

What is clear is that Laporta is attempting a triple somersault:

• Tebas's scissors: The LaLiga president plays for nobody. He made it clear: no authorisation, and if there is one, it will have to come with a brutal wage cut or the sale of club assets.
• The dressing room and internal 'fair play': It's not just about Messi. It's about how his arrival affects the current captains, the youngsters who have broken through this season. Laporta has to manage egos and wages.
• The truth that's starting to emerge: In football's gossip circles, it's now an open secret that the whispers are real. That Laporta has been negotiating with Messi's camp for weeks, and that Tebas's 'no' is just another hurdle, not the end of the road.

I've been watching this man for decades. I've seen him fall and get back up. And believe me, Joan Laporta i Echevarría doesn't get cold feet over a denial. He knows the fans just want to dream. And as long as there's the smallest gap, he'll slot the ball through. What we don't know is at what cost. Because in modern football, no joy comes without the small print. Stay tuned, this is only just the beginning.