Barcelona president Joan Laporta has dismissed the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the club, despite the Argentine’s surprise visit earlier this week.
The Argentina captain made a return to the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, before going ahead to join the national team in Spain.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner also expressed desire to return to the city in future, although it was not stated if he would still represent the Blaugrana at any point.
Speaking in an interview, Laporta ruled out any news of Messi’s return to Barcelona, deeming it very unrealistic.
“His departure wasn’t as we wanted. But out of the utmost respect for Messi and everyone at the club, for me to feed speculation that is not realistic is not appropriate”, Laporta said.
“I didn’t know he was coming, but Camp Nou is his home,” Laporta added. “They told me what happened. It was a nice gesture. He had just finished dinner and felt like coming with some friends. It was a spontaneous act in the spirt of Barcelona.”
It marked the first time Messi returned to the club since his surprise departure in 2021, when he moved to France to join Paris Saint Germain.
The 38-year-old then joined Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer, where he has recently signed a contract extension that keeps him at the club beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spent over 20 years at the Catalan giants, winning multiple laurels and individual accolades.
“It’s only fair that Leo should have the most beautiful tribute in the world. When the stadium is finished, we’ll have a capacity of 105,000 fans, so we’d like that”, he continued.
Argentina gear up their World Cup preparations when they clash against Angola on Friday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
