Barcelona president Joan Laporta has described the prospects of Lionel Messi returning to the club as a player as “unrealistic,” following the Argentine superstar’s surprise visit to Camp Nou earlier this week.
Lionel Messi, one of Barcelona’s all-time greats, made an unannounced visit to Camp Nou on Sunday, expressing his hope to “return one day” and not just to say goodbye, as he never had the chance to do so properly. The 38-year-old superstar left the club in 2021 after spending 21 years at Barcelona, joining Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi’s Legendary Career at Barcelona
During his time at Barcelona, Lionel Messi became the club’s record goal scorer (672 goals) and most-capped player (778 appearances). He won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, and three Club World Cups, establishing himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His exit in 2021 was driven by Barcelona’s financial difficulties, which prevented the club from renewing his contract.
Speaking to Catalunya Radio, Joan Laporta said:
“Out of the utmost respect for Lionel Messi, the professionals at the club, and Barca members, I believe speculating about a return is unrealistic and not fair. It is not appropriate.”
The president, who was in charge when Lionel Messi left, added that he does not regret the circumstances, stating:
“Barca is above everything.”
Following his visit,Messi shared on Instagram:
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world… I hope one day I can return.”
The visit coincided with the reopening of Camp Nou, which had been closed for 895 days for renovations. The revamped stadium hosted an open training session attended by 21,795 fans, giving Messi a warm reception from supporters.
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Tribute Match for Lionel Messi
Joan Laporta confirmed that the club hopes to organize a tribute match honoring Lionel Messi at the newly renovated Camp Nou:
“It would be right that Lionel Messi has the best tribute in the world, here in front of 105,000 fans. Things didn’t end the way we would have liked… if this tribute can make up for what wasn’t done, it would be wonderful.”
While his professional future lies with Inter Miami, Messi is currently in Spain with the Argentina national team preparing for a friendly against Angola. Despite this, his emotional bond with Barcelona remains evident, as fans continue to celebrate his legendary career.