Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists it’s “not reasonable” to ponder Lionel Messi returning to play for the membership.
Hypothesis has ramped up in latest days after Messi made a spontaneous visit to Camp Nou on Sunday night time and in addition spoke of a return to living in Catalonia during 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 time event such because the World Cup, however it appears unlikely that can occur in Messi’s case because of Inter Miami’s participation within the CONCACAF Champions Cup from February.
Laporta was asked about Messi this morning on an appearance on Catalunya Radio and insisted: “It isn’t reasonable to speak in regards to the return of Leo Messi as a participant.”
Laporta eager to stage Messi tribute recreation
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 which means they had been unable to supply him a brand new contract.
The complicated and protracted nature of his departure, plus the Covid pandemic, meant Barca followers didn’t have a correct probability to say goodbye to a person who scored 672 objectives in 778 appearances and received 34 main trophies in an excellent 17-year spell within the first staff.
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 the most effective 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 achieved. If the tribute will be achieved now, we might be glad.
“Right here we love him, that is his home and he is aware of it. We have now all the time mentioned it, it’s honest that he has probably the most stunning tribute on the earth. I feel it will likely be great.”
On Messi’s choice to drop in at Camp Nou late Sunday, Laporta mentioned: “I didn’t know he was coming, however Camp Nou is his house. Once they defined to me the way it was, I feel it was a pleasant second of spontaneity, he simply had dinner and felt like coming with some buddies.”
