Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists it’s “not practical” to ponder Lionel Messi returning to play for the membership.
Hypothesis has ramped up in latest days after Messi made a spontaneous go to to Camp Nou on Sunday night time and likewise spoke of a return to residing in Catalonia throughout an interview with Sport.
In earlier years, gamers who ply their commerce in Main League Soccer have moved to European golf equipment on short-term mortgage offers within the January window, notably forward of a significant summer season event such because the World Cup, but it surely appears unlikely that can occur in Messi’s case as a result of Inter Miami’s participation within the CONCACAF Champions Cup from February.
Laporta was requested about Messi this morning on an look on Catalunya Radio and insisted: “It isn’t practical to speak concerning the return of Leo Messi as a participant.”
Laporta eager to stage Messi tribute sport
He was happier, nevertheless, to debate the concept of a tribute match in recognition of the Argentina captain’s achievements throughout his time on the membership.
Messi left in 2021 with Barca’s then monetary points that means they had been unable to supply him a brand new contract.
The advanced and protracted nature of his departure, plus the Covid pandemic, meant Barca followers didn’t have a correct likelihood to say goodbye to a person who scored 672 targets in 778 appearances and gained 34 main trophies in an excellent 17-year spell within the first workforce.
Laporta has all the time insisted he intends to honour Messi when the Camp Nou’s renovation is full and he reiterated that time this morning.
“We’re working in order that video games will be performed right here [the revamped Camp Nou] and on this context, I would love a tribute to be carried out for one of the best participant in historical past,” he mentioned, earlier than including on Messi’s exit. “As for a way issues went, I don’t remorse something: Barça is above everybody. It wasn’t as all of us needed, however at the moment it couldn’t be executed. If the tribute will be executed now, we might be joyful.
“Right here we love him, that is his home and he is aware of it. We’ve all the time mentioned it, it’s truthful that he has probably the most stunning tribute on this planet. I believe it is going to be fantastic.”
On Messi’s determination to drop in at Camp Nou late Sunday, Laporta mentioned: “I didn’t know he was coming, however Camp Nou is his dwelling. After they defined to me the way it was, I believe it was a pleasant second of spontaneity, he simply had dinner and felt like coming with some associates.”