Joan Laporta Rules Out Messis Playing Return to Barcelona

Barcelona president Joan Laporta dismissed speculation of Lionel Messi returning as a player after the legend’s late-night visit to Camp Nou. Messi, now with Inter Miami, expressed his wish for a proper farewell. Laporta assured fans of a grand tribute match once stadium renovations finish, calling it justice for the club icon.

When the legendary Lionel Messi made a surprise late-night visit to Camp Nou, emotions ran high among Barcelona supporters who still cherish his glorious era with the club. The Argentine maestro, who left Barcelona in 2021 under emotional circumstances, shared a heartfelt social media post expressing his wish to one day return and bid farewell as a player, something he never got to do.

However, club president Joan Laporta ruled out any realistic chance of Messi playing again for Barcelona, emphasizing that he did not want to offer fans false hope. Laporta stated on Catalunya Radio that while Messi’s return as a player is “unrealistic,” the club is determined to give him a fitting tribute once the Camp Nou renovation is complete. He acknowledged that Messi’s exit wasn’t ideal and hoped that an official farewell event could help make amends.

During his time with Barcelona, Messi won six of his seven Ballon d’Or titles and etched his name as arguably the greatest player in the club’s history. Laporta promised that the Argentine icon would receive “the best tribute in the world,” in front of 105,000 fans at the new stadium, once ready, a long-awaited moment for millions of Barça supporters.