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Argentine World Cup winner raised eyebrows with his decision to join Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami this past summer. However, reports have emerged that the record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner could return to his boyhood club Barcelona on a loan move if Inter Miami failed to qualify for the MLS 2023 playoffs.
Ahead of his move to David Beckham-owned Inter Miami, Messi was heavily linked with rejoining La Liga giants Barcelona in the 2023 summer. However, the deal fell off the charts as the 36-year-old Argentine joined MLS and went on to win a silverware in his first season with the club.
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According to the Spanish outlet AS, Messi could head back to the Camp Nou for a proper send-off from the Catalan giants after spending 17 years with the club. Reportedly, if Inter Miami failed to qualify for the MLS 2023 playoffs, the Florida club could allow Messi to join Barcelona on loan in January. Earlier David Beckham's move to AC Milan and Thierry Henry's return to Arsenal were the instances when stars joined their former clubs on loan from the MLS.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas also made a vow in an interview with El Club del Deportista as quoted by MARCA on Monday evening, where he talked about his promise to Lionel Messi about providing him the opportunity to "say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona." Mas said that he "will do everything possible in the coming years so that he (Messi) has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona."
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However, the promise not just meant a loan move to Barcelona for Messi but also Inter Miami facing Barcelona in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, where the Blaugrana open their season with a friendly. With the match-up, Messi could receive a farewell from his fans at the Camp Nou.
Apart from all the reports, Sergi Capdevila of SPORT reported that there has been no discussion between Inter Miami, Barcelona, and Lionel Messi for the loan move. As things stand, Inter Miami are set to miss this season's playoffs in the MLS as they are currently placed 14th in the Eastern Conference standings.
