Lionel Messi has set his sights on a sensational return to Barcelona, the club where he spent 21 glorious years.
The 37-year-old ended his two-decade spell with Barcelona in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. After two years in France, he left Europe to sign for MLS giants Inter Miami in a huge free transfer.
Messi has been a revelation in the MLS, netting 34 goals and providing 18 assists in just 39 appearances. However, with just one year left on his current deal, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is looking to the future. According to a family friend, Yanina Latorre, Messi wants to complete a sensational return to Barcelona.
“He told me that when he finishes here (Miami), where he is happy, he will return to Barcelona,” Latorre told La Nacion. Messi allegedly rejected the possibility of extending his stay in the USA, saying, “No, my place is there.”
A return as a player could be complicated due to Barcelona’s ongoing money issues, but an ambassadorial role is a possible alternative. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham recently admitted that Messi only sees his future in Spain.
“I would like Messi to live in Miami when he retires, but Leo told me that he only thinks about living near the Camp Nou,” Beckham said. “There is no player who loves Barcelona as much as he does. You can see the Barca crest on his leg and even on his water bottle.”
While Beckham didn’t disclose exactly when Messi could return to Barcelona, his Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas plans to discuss the forward’s future with him. Mas previously stated, “I fully expect that when our new stadium opens in 2026, Leo Messi will be our number 10.”
However, with Messi’s heart set on a return to Barcelona, it remains to be seen if he will fulfill that expectation.
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