 "Messi back at Barcelona? Report reveals club president Laporta's ambitious plan to bring superstar home")
It’s been more than four years since Lionel Messi bid a teary-eyed farewell to FC Barcelona, the club that he had called home for 17 years since his debut in 2004 and had helped win multiple Spanish and European titles. The Argentine superstar had trained at Barcelona’s academy La Masia and would go on to carve a legacy as the biggest star of his generation alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and one of the greatest of all time.
Messi had bid Barcelona goodbye in less-than-ideal circumstances at the end of the 2020-21 season, back when the club was in a state of serious financial turmoil and their performance on the pitch had sunk to its lowest levels in a long time, especially in light of their 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich.
The talismanic forward would spend two seasons with French giants Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona. And while there were speculations of him returning to Barcelona as a free agent after his PSG contract had lapsed in 2023, Messi chose to start afresh in the United States by signing a deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, a club that’s co-owned by English legend David Beckham.
Can Laporta bring Messi back to Barca for one last dance?
Barcelona, however, have not given up on their dream of welcoming Messi back into the Camp Nou. The Argentine’s contact with The Herons expires in December, at which point the 2025 MLS season will also come to an end. While Messi is currently expected to renew his contract and extend his stay with Miami, Barcelona president Laporta is hoping to woo him back with a major tribute at the new Spotify Camp Nou.
According to a report on The Touchline, the tribute is expected to take place next summer, at which point renovation work at Barcelona’s iconic home ground is expected to be complete with an upgraded capacity of 104,000 spectators.
Renovation work at the Camp Nou has been going on since 2023, with Barcelona temporarily shifting base to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys – the primary venue for the 1992 Summer Olympics – and occasionally playing matches at Estadi Johan Cruyff, which is located in the complex that houses club’s training facility and youth academy.
While renovation isn’t expected to be completed until next summer, with Barcelona president Laporta planning to hold off the Messi tribute until then, the club could start hosting matches at the iconic venue once it is able to hold at least 45,000 spectators.
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