Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his dismay at the orchestrated campaign against Leo Messi, which has already succeeded in forcing the Argentine into the courts.

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In various tweets, Laporta puts forward his belief that this has all been part of a strategy to take Messi away from Barça.

He writes: "(I am) sad and dismayed by the attacks by some against Leo Messi and his family. I am of the opinion that this all seems part of a political, judicial, sporting, and media strategy, with the state counsel as its executive arm, to try to get Messi to leave Barça. I am missing a more decided and strong position by the club in its defence of our player, Leo Messi, the best footballer in the world."