In the days of early summer, before Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami was made official on July 15, many Barcelona fans still believed he might return to Catalonia instead.
It never really made sense. Barca did explore the option of bringing Messi back, but they could not guarantee their financial situation would allow it.
This was exactly what led to Messi leaving Barcelona in 2021. He had agreed to a new contract, but because of salary cap rules they were unable to register him to play in La Liga — and therefore he had to go.
But even since Messi’s move to MLS, media reports have suggested there could be a chance he returns on loan at some point. In the Catalan press on Thursday, this suggestion surfaced again, with local newspaper Sport citing “rumours” linking Messi to a Barca loan switch in January.
Is that really likely? In a word, no.
When Messi made the decision to move to Miami, he did so knowing the possibility of returning to Barca was closed. At the time, sources close to the player told The Athletic he would not be going anywhere on loan, that his intention was to stay with the MLS club.
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Another of the reasons that led to Messi abandoning the idea of waiting for Barca this summer was the welfare of his family. He did not want to leave their plans pending until the last minute, especially in terms of his children’s schooling, and the importance of settling comfortably in a new home.
That same thinking also informed his view on a loan move. He did not want to leave his family in the middle of the season and go to play in Europe, and he did not want to bring them over, either.
Messi has not been fit for Inter Miami’s last four matches (Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
There are yet more reasons why a Messi loan move to Barca wouldn’t make sense.
The relationship between Barca president Joan Laporta and Messi’s family was affected by the nature of his departure in 2021 — and it has not improved much since.
When the subject of his future was up in the air earlier this season, as his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ran down, Barca’s public position was that any return would purely rely on Messi giving the OK. The Messi camp felt they were leaving him exposed, when both sides knew the real difficulties involved.
And now, there is — again, like in the summer — the question of money.
Barcelona are once more in a position where they must reduce their salary spending if they want to sign any more players, on loan or permanently.
At the moment, sources close to the club indicate they are working on a strategy to be able to bring in Brazilian striker Vitor Roque in the next transfer window.
The 18-year-old’s signing was secured earlier this year in a €61million (£52.2m, $66.9m) deal that will see Barca pay an initial €30m to Athletico Paranaense, with another €31m due in potential bonuses. Roque was initially expected to join for the 2024-25 season, but Barca are now trying to bring this forward. That is their priority right now.
But Barca would still like to invite Messi back for a goodbye appearance of some kind.
And in July, Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said he will do “everything in his power” to help Messi play a farewell match — at Camp Nou.
Barca’s ground is currently being redeveloped. They are aiming to return in time to celebrate their 125th anniversary in November 2024. That is a highly ambitious target.
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“He deserves his correct goodbye there,” Mas said.
“There will be something where, hopefully when the new Camp Nou is open, because their stadium there they will not be playing in for the next year and a half, hopefully Lionel Messi can say his proper goodbye.
“That does not entail playing for Barcelona. He’s not going to go on loan there.”
(Top photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)