Messi a gift from heaven: Juan Laporta

Madrid, August 3: Barcelona suffered a major blow this summer with their star player Neymar closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Catalan club still have their best player Lionel Messi at the club.

Former Barcelona president Juan Laporta, in his recent interview, was full of praise for Barcelona's spectacular number ten Lionel Messi and labelled him as a 'gift from heaven'.

The former Barca president recalled the first time he saw the Argentine attacker in action and admitted he was blown away by the talented teenager. He also stated that he hopes that Messi can keep playing for Barcelona on the long term and give the fans more reasons to celebrate.

"I saw him play in the cadete (youth team) and, with 20 minutes left, he scored four goals," he said.

"He came on, with 20 minutes left, because he was coming back from an injury or something, and he scored four goals. And we stood there watching him in the youth teams: 'Look at how this kid plays, amazing!'"

"He played the same as he does now. It was a very similar style. The thing is that he has matured, he has become a man. Now he is a father too. He made his debut for the first team at 16 years old."

"I remember the first contract we gave him and when he made his debut at the Estadio do Dragao, in Porto."

During the time of Laporta as the president of Barcelona, Messi made his debut for Barcelona as a teenager and never looked back ever since.

"He has been a gift that fell from heaven, a privilege that Barça has had," the 55-year-old lawyer said.

"We need to keep enjoying him still because Leo has many years left."

"With the characteristics he has, I'm sure he will play on for many more years and give many more joys to Barca. And it's a privilege."

"To have a player who is the best player in the history of football, but also one who has the humility that Leo has, we have seen him mature and it's fantastic. He is a personality, a great man."

"Leo surprises continuously," he said.

"You see him and he does things that are unique."

"He did unique things before and he does unique things now, in terms of the versatility of his game, the speed of his game, he has the ball stuck to his foot like nobody else, the way he changes rhythm, the vision he has, he's a passer, a goalscorer, he knows how to conserve his energy."

"He always surprises you with his versatile play and what is a pleasure is the attitude he has in all areas of life: playing football, in his family, as a father and as a person."

"With Messi," he said. "Everything is possible."

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