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Barcelona president Joan Laporta has ruled out the possibility of Lionel Messi resigning after the Argentinian sparked a frenzy by returning to the Nou Camp on Sunday.
The 38-year-old posted a heartfelt message to fans of the Catalan giants after supposedly arriving unannounced to the iconic ground where he produced so many magic moments.
Accompanying snaps of him on the pitch at the newly-renovated Nou Camp, Messi penned: ‘Last night I returned to a place I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you all made me feel a thousand times over like the happiest person in the world. I hope I can return someday and not just to say goodbye as a player, which I never got to do…’
It sparked speculation amongst supporters that arguably football’s greatest player could make a dream return to Barca as he enters the twilight of his career.
But Laporta, who claims he was not told before-hand of Messi’s plan to visit the stadium, has been quick to throw water on the fire.
He told Catalunya Radio: ‘I didn’t know he was coming, but the Spotify Camp Nou is his home. When they planned how it happened, I think it was a sweet little spur of the moment decision. He’d just finished some dinner and felt like coming with some friends.
Lionel Messi sparked speculation of a return to Barcelona as he posted pictures of himself back at the Camp Nou on Monday
However Barca president Joan Laporta has ruled out any possibility of a Messi return
‘It’s only right that Leo receives the most beautiful tribute in the world. When it’s finished, we’ll have a capacity of 105,000 fans so we’d love to have him here.
‘We’re working on the tribute and on ensuring the best football in the world can be seen and we’d like to offer Leo the tribute he deserves.
‘It wasn’t how we all wanted it (Messi’s Barcelona exit), things were as they were. If in some way the tribute can help to undo what wasn’t done perfectly that would be good. Speculation about a possible return as a player is not appropriate.’
It’s thought Messi and his family were left ‘very very angry’ with Laporta after his Barcelona departure in 2021.
The two parties failed to agree a contract extension upon the end of the star’s deal that summer, leaving him with little choice but to exit for PSG.
He spent two seasons in the French capital before leaving for Inter Miami, where he signed a new deal keeping him at the club until 2028 just weeks ago.
But Messi admitted in an interview this week that he and his family ‘miss Barcelona so much’ and would like to return one day.
‘I’m really looking forward to going there,’ he told Sport. ‘My wife and kids are always talking about Barcelona, about the idea of living there again. We have our house there, everything, so that’s what we want.
The 38-year-old left the Catalan giants in 2021 after failing to agree a new deal at the club
He’s now playing in the MLS for Inter Miami, where he’s contracted until 2028
But Messi admitted this week that he and his family ‘miss living in Barcelona so much’
‘I’m really looking forward to going back to the stadium when it’s finished because I haven’t been back to Camp Nou since I moved to Paris and then they moved to Montjuic.’
Messi is now preparing for next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada which is likely to be his last in the blue and white of Argentina.
He and his team-mates head into the tournament as holders after their triumphant campaign in Qatar four years ago in which Messi picked up the Golden Boot.
Speaking about his expectations ahead of the tournament, he said: ‘It’s a special World Cup. It’s special to play with the national and other important, official competitions, especially considering what a World Cup means and after having won it.
‘But, as I was saying, I don’t want to be a burden, so to speak. I want to feel good physically, to be sure that I can help and contribute to the group, to the squad.
‘Our season is different from the European one. We’ll have a pre-season in between, few matches leading up to the World Cup, and we’ll see day by day if I really feel physically fit enough to be where I’d like to be and be able to participate.
‘But obviously, I’m aware that it’s a World Cup in June, and it’s special, and that the World Cup is the biggest competition there is. So, I’m excited, but taking it one day at a time.’
