Messi left the Camp Nou as a free agent to join Paris Saint Germain last summer after 21 years of invaluable service.
Barcelona could not afford to keep the Argentine as a result of their dire financial circumstances.
Messi signed a two-year contract with the option for a third when leaving for the French capital.
Messi made 778 appearances for Barcelona after making his debut in 2003 and is the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals. He won 35 trophies with the club including four UEFA Champions League trophies and 10 La Liga titles.
Laporta feels Messi's adventure with Barcelona is not entirely over and he could make a fairytale return to the Blaugrana when his time at PSG comes to a close.
"For Barca, he has possibly been the best player in history, the most efficient, only comparable to Johan Cruyff in the history of Barca," Laporta told ESPN.
"But it had to happen one day. We had to make a decision as a consequence of the legacy we had received, the institution is above players and coaches.
"I don't believe Messi's chapter at Barcelona is over. And I believe it is our responsibility to make sure that chapter is still open, that it hasn't closed.
"To have a moment to do it how it should have been done so that he may have a much more splendid ending than what he had."
