'Leo generates more than his salary may cost': Laporta responds to Tusquets' comments Messi

Last week, the club's interim president Carles Tusquets claimed that financially Messi's departure this summer would've been good for Barca.

However, Joan Laporta, who recently joined the presidential election race, believes that the 33-year-old actually deserves a pay rise on his next contract with the Catalans.

"You could argue many reasons for him staying. I prefer to think about what Leo generates, which is a lot – certainly, more than his salary may cost," Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta said in an interview with Sport.

"I'm not just talking about the sporting level, which is already well known. 

"I consider him the best footballer in history. Leo is so much more than just that. In my opinion, all players, when they win many titles and generate so much for the club, deserve to be valued accordingly."

The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season. Leo apparently won't start any negotiations over a new deal until a new president gets elected.