Joan Laporta, the former Barcelona president and current candidate for re-election, has made a significant revelation about Lionel Messi’s decision to join Inter Miami rather than return to Barcelona in 2023. Speaking on the Catalan programme Café d’Idees, Laporta confirmed that Barcelona made a genuine attempt to re-sign Messi after his time at Paris Saint-Germain — but the Argentine legend chose Major League Soccer over a Camp Nou comeback.
Laporta Confirms Barcelona Tried to Re-Sign Messi in 2023
Laporta was direct in his admission that made an attempt to bring Messi back in 2023. After Messi’s two-year stay at PSG — a period the Argentine himself described as unsuccessful — he was a free agent with offers from Barcelona, Inter Miami, and Saudi Arabian clubs. Laporta stated that Barcelona’s approach was genuine but ultimately unsuccessful. He was careful to frame Messi’s decision to go to Inter Miami as a completely respectable personal choice, saying he did not wish to sound critical of the player who remains his former club’s all-time greatest.
How Lost Messi in 2021 laporta’s Honest Account
Laporta revisited the painful 2021 departure that started the series of events leading to the missed 2023 return. He was direct in admitting Barcelona’s dire financial situation made it impossible to retain Messi despite the player’s desire to stay. The club was massively over La Liga’s wage limit, requiring sweeping wage cuts, and renewing Messi’s deal — where his salary far exceeded any other player’s — was simply financially unviable. Laporta admitted that while more could always be done in any situation, the circumstances at the time of Messi’s departure from Barcelona were genuinely extreme.
Messi’s Strained Relationship With Laporta
Laporta also addressed the strained personal relationship with Messi that developed after the 2021 exit. He revealed a notable incident at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Messi collecting a record eighth Golden Ball avoided greeting him when the two were in the same room. Laporta described the relationship as no longer what it used to be, acknowledging that the manner of Messi’s exit from Barcelona had created lasting tension. Despite this, Laporta insists Barcelona remains Messi’s spiritual home and hopes for a grand tribute when the club’s stadium renovation is complete.
Inter Miami’s Long-Term Contract Blocks Barcelona Return
Messi signed a long-term deal with Inter Miami that runs through the 2028 MLS season, keeping him in Florida through his age-41 season. This contract significantly reduces any possibility of a return to Barcelona as a player. Even a short-term loan that some speculated about was firmly dismissed by Laporta as “”not realistic.”” The president was blunt in saying that feeding such speculation would be disrespectful to Messi, the club’s players, and the coaching staff, adding that the Argentine still has ongoing contractual commitments in America.
Laporta Proposes Messi Statue at Camp Nou
Despite the professional complications, Laporta was warm about Messi’s place in Barcelona’s history and future. He proposed erecting a statue of Messi at the renovated Camp Nou, similar to those that honour Johan Cruyff and László Kubala. Laporta also envisioned an unforgettable tribute for Messi when the stadium set to hold over 100,000 fans is fully complete. The desire to give Messi the greatest farewell in football history reflects how deeply the Argentine’s legacy is embedded in Barcelona’s identity, even if a playing return is no longer on the table.
Messi’s Legacy at Barcelona Remains Untouched
Between 2004 and 2021, Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona, winning 34 trophies including four Champions League titles and 10 La Liga championships. He remains the club’s all-time top scorer and arguably the greatest player ever to play for the club. Laporta’s latest revelations add an interesting chapter to the Messi story one that began with a fairy-tale partnership and ended in financial tears, but which both parties clearly still hold with great affection.
Written by 8JJ.com News Desk | February 26, 2026
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