Barcelona president Joan Laporta has firmly shut down growing speculation about Lionel Messi making a short-term return to the club. Laporta described such reports as “unrealistic” and disrespectful to those currently at the Camp Nou. His comments come just days after Lionel Messi made an emotional visit to the newly renovated stadium, sparking fresh hope among fans of a potential reunion.
Speaking to Catalunya Radio, Laporta said, “Out of respect for Messi, our players, and our members, it’s not the time to speculate with unrealistic scenarios.”
Messi, now with Inter Miami, had expressed in a recent interview with Sport that he and his family “miss Barcelona a lot” and dream of living there again someday. “We miss Barcelona a lot. The kids constantly mention it, and my wife and I often talk about the idea of living there again. We have our home there, everything, so it’s what we want,” Messi said, adding that he hopes to return to the city in the future – even if not as a player.
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Laporta, however, was quick to pour cold water on the expectations. The Barcelona chief reiterated that while the club will always cherish Messi’s legacy, any talk of a comeback is detached from the club’s current priorities. “Despite how everything happened with Leo Messi’s departure, I have no regrets. Barça is above anyone else. It’s not what we all wanted, but it was not possible at that moment,” Laporta noted.
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Messi’s departure in 2021 remains one of the most emotional moments in Barcelona’s history. Financial constraints forced the club to let go of its greatest-ever player. Messi left behind a staggering record of 672 goals, 303 assists, 778 appearances, and 35 trophies – including 10 La Liga and 4 Champions League titles.
Since leaving Spain, Messi has continued to expand his footballing legacy – first with Paris Saint-Germain, and now in the MLS with Inter Miami. The Argentine captain is currently with Argentina national team in Alicante ahead of Friday’s friendly against Angola in Luanda.
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