Barça: Joan Laporta’s revelations about Lionel Messi’s aborted return

Joan Laporta revealed that he had sent a contract offer to Lionel Messi before his departure to Inter Miami, but the Argentine ultimately chose a new challenge in the United States.

The story could have gone differently. When Lionel Messi was about to turn the page on his time at Paris Saint-Germain, a return to FC Barcelona was seriously considered. This is revealed by Joan Laporta in a book published this week, where he lifts the lid on the behind-the-scenes of this hot matter.

Leaving Barcelona in 2021, after more than two decades at the club, the Argentine had then endured two contrasting seasons in Paris before leading the Albiceleste to glory at the FIFA World Cup 2022. Free of any contract at the end of his stint in France, the seven-time — then eight-time — Ballon d’Or ultimately chose to cross the Atlantic to join Inter Miami CF.

But according to Laporta, the scenario of a return to Catalonia was seriously worked on. The Blaugrana president explains that he had prepared a contractual proposal sent to Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent. Jorge Messi came to see me, I prepared the contract, I sent him the preliminary version and he didn’t respond. A week passes, two… a month later, he finally comes back to me and tells me they have decided to join Inter Miami, where he would be under less pressure », he said.

A choice dictated, according to the Catalan leader, by the world champion’s wish to play in a calmer environment after years of maximum exposure in Europe. For Barcelona supporters, the dream of one last chapter at Camp Nou disappeared at that moment. The story, however, headed to Florida.