That's called denial and unwilling to accept the situation.
So Barca are off loading player after player yet they've signed 3 players on frees and these players all wanted to sign for Barca for the love of the club?
I'm sure these players agent's knew that Barca are skint, that they are releasing players and that the Messi situation is, for want of a better word, messy.
Like I've alluded to countless times, they've had since January to thrash out a new deal, nothing to do with him being away for the Copa America, a happy Messi would have resigned in a heartbeat, the fact that he hasn't tells you quite a lot.
They have created a situation, of the pretence of everyone keeping their word. Or rather, being seen to keep their word. The first one to blink, unravels the lot, but is also the scapegoat.
Last summer messi snapped, handed in his notice, announced henwas off and unleashed criticism of the board. Fucking shitshow, can't do that at Barcelona pal, the lot ganged up on stopping him leaving, ready to destroy his legacy, leak his countract, etc etc. Tebas, barcelona, the spanish media, the cules, the lot.
New president comes in on a promise to keep messi and a message of love. And has taken it on himself to speak for messi, what money he will accept, what project he needs, that he wants to stay, and that he will make it happen. That's his word now.
Messi has said he will honour his contract, not speak to any clubs before the end, and decide his future after. The copa is now the only focus. In some ways, kept his word. Said nothing to deny Laporta's claims on his behalf, said nothing to confirm them.
Tebas has claimed barcelona need to lower wages, if they want to sign messi, or any other players.
Pep has consistently said, when asked, messi should finish his career at Barca. Suggesting that we are bot interested, and unlikely to try lure messi away from where he 'belongs'.
So it is all on Laporta and Barcelona now. If he pulls it off, and messi ends up there, without tebas yielding, and us not getting drawn in publicly, everyone has kept their word.
If not, a case of who blinks first.
If Laporta is furst to suggest keeping messi wont work, messi looks at his options, city/pep publicly goes after him (may well already have done behind the scenes obvs)
If Messi goes first, he wanted to stay but it is clear things are tough and both Barcelona and He need to move on, City can then again publicly engage, laporta tried, tebas remained firm
Or, we 'put an offer in' as messi is now a free agent for some time, and messi is tempted, then as above. Which i doubt would happen, we seem to be staying well out of this one till all the dust settles.
