Messi back to Barcelona? Club chairman Laporta gives update

Barcelona great Lionel Messi’s return to the Catalan giants is «unrealistic», club president Joan Laporta said on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar made a surprise appearance at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium on Sunday evening, saying he hoped «one day I can return, and not just say goodbye as a player, as I never had to do».

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, Barca’s record scorer and appearance maker, left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after 20 years as the club could not afford to keep him due to its precarious financial position.

«Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals of the club, Barcelona and the club members of Barcelona, ​​I believe it is not appropriate to make speculations now that are unrealistic and that I also do not consider fair. Well, I think that is not appropriate,» Laporta said. Catalan radio.

The president, who was in charge at the time of Messi’s departure, said he had no regrets about what happened because «Barca are above everything».

READ | Barcelona legend Messi wants Camp Nou to return to say ‘farewell’

Laporta confirmed he would like to hold a match to celebrate Messi’s career at the rebuilt Camp Nou once it is fully open.

“Things didn’t end the way we wanted… if this tribute can somehow make up for what wasn’t done, I think it would be a good thing,” Laporta explained.

“It would be good if he has the best tribute (match) in the world, and it would be great to have that here, in front of 105,000 fans,” he continued.

The president said Messi’s surprise visit to Inter Miami’s stadium on Sunday was a «spontaneous» expression of his love for the club.

Messi is currently in Spain with the Argentina national team, training for a friendly against Angola.

Published on November 12, 2025