Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists it is “not realistic” to contemplate Lionel Messi returning to play for the club.
Speculation has ramped up in recent days after Messi made a spontaneous visit to Camp Nou on Sunday night and also spoke of a return to living in Catalonia during an interview with Sport.
In previous years, players who ply their trade in Major League Soccer have moved to European clubs on short-term loan deals in the January window, particularly ahead of a major summer tournament such as the World Cup, but it seems unlikely that will happen in Messi’s case due to Inter Miami’s participation in the CONCACAF Champions Cup from February.
Laporta was asked about Messi this morning on an appearance on Catalunya Radio and insisted: “It is not realistic to talk about the return of Leo Messi as a player.”
Laporta keen to stage Messi tribute game
He was happier, however, to discuss the idea of a tribute match in recognition of the Argentina captain’s achievements during his time at the club.
Messi left in 2021 with Barca’s then financial issues meaning they were unable to offer him a new contract.
The complex and protracted nature of his departure, plus the Covid pandemic, meant Barca fans didn’t have a proper chance to say goodbye to a man who scored 672 goals in 778 appearances and won 34 major trophies in a glorious 17-year spell in the first team.
Laporta has always insisted he intends to honour Messi when the Camp Nou’s renovation is complete and he reiterated that point this morning.
“We are working so that games can be played here [the revamped Camp Nou] and in this context, I would like a tribute to be carried out for the best player in history,” he said, before adding on Messi’s exit. “As for how things went, I don’t regret anything: Barça is above everyone. It wasn’t as we all wanted, but at that time it couldn’t be done. If the tribute can be done now, we would be happy.
“Here we love him, this is his house and he knows it. We have always said it, it is fair that he has the most beautiful tribute in the world. I think it will be wonderful.”
On Messi’s decision to drop in at Camp Nou late Sunday, Laporta said: “I didn’t know he was coming, but Camp Nou is his home. When they explained to me how it was, I think it was a nice moment of spontaneity, he just had dinner and felt like coming with some friends.”
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