SUMMARY
- Lionel Messi was rumored to return to FC Barcelona on loan.
- Joan Laporta fears Lionel Messi's return to FC Barcelona will violate FIFA rules.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made a damning admission about Lionel Messi. Messi, who left FC Barcelona for PSG in 2021, was expected to return to the club earlier in 2023. However, the club’s ongoing financial crisis prevented the move from happening, and Messi signed with Inter Miami. However, there have been recent rumors about Messi returning to the club on loan.
Following Inter Miami’s failure to qualify for the playoffs, Lionel Messi was rumored to return to FC Barcelona on loan. It would have been a case similar to ex-England skipper and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham’s loan move from LA Galaxy to AC Milan in 2009. However, Messi had earlier declared that he had no intentions of returning to Europe in his career anymore.
Laporta: “Messi on loan for an official match? I don’t think it’s even allowed by FIFA. We are open to doing it whenever they want. Messi is the best player in history and, for what we respect and admire him, of course he deserves a tribute…” pic.twitter.com/lprXW4krGB
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) December 20, 2023
This led to rumors of the World Cup winner returning to his boyhood club for one official match on loan. However, club president Joan Laporta has downplayed such rumors in a recent interview with EFE. Laporta said, “Messi on loan for an official match? I don’t think it’s even allowed by FIFA.” Moreover, Inter Miami CEO Jorge Mas has also weighed in on such rumors previously.
🚨🎙️| Jorge Mas [Inter Miami’s owner] on Leo Messi’s farewell game:
🗣️ “I don’t know if it’s some type of friendly or farewell game. They have this Gamper Trophy, but there will be something where, hopefully when the new Camp Nou is open, hopefully Lionel Messi can say his… pic.twitter.com/zYUClGmIVs
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) July 29, 2023
Jorge Mas stated that he has no intention of letting the 36-year-old soccer legend leave Inter Miami on loan. He said, “He’s (Messi) not going to go on loan there. That’s not going to happen.” However, Mas did state that he would do everything in his power to let Messi have a deserving farewell at Spotify Camp Nou in his testimonial match.
Joan Laporta is willing to change the venue of Lionel Messi’s farewell match
While Lionel Messi won’t return to Europe again, he will set foot at Spotify Camp Nou for one last time in his career. As previously stated, Joan Laporta wants to host a testimonial match for Messi at Camp Nou in the future. Messi, who left the club two years ago, didn’t get to say goodbye to the fans due to the suddenness of his departure.
President Laporta has previously said that he had a talk with Lionel Messi’s agent and father, Jorge, about the farewell match. Although Camp Nou is currently undergoing some much-needed renovations, the game’s date remains yet to be confirmed. However, in his most recent interview, Joan Laporta stated that he’s willing to host the farewell match anywhere Messi wants.