Messi Expresses Desire to Return to Barcelona Amid Stadium Renovations

Lionel Messi, the star player for Inter Miami, has expressed his intention to return to live in Barcelona in the future. He emphasized that his abrupt exit from the LaLiga club in 2021 did not align with his envisioned departure.

Messi’s remarks coincided with an unexpected visit to Spotify Camp Nou, where he shared images of the stadium’s redevelopment on social media. He captioned the post, expressing a desire to “return for the goodbye I never got to say as a player.”

“We miss Barcelona a lot,” Messi told Diario Sport. “My wife and I, along with our children, frequently discuss our life in Barcelona. Our plan is to return there to live. We have a home there, and that’s what we aspire to do.”

Messi’s surprise visit to Camp Nou on Sunday caught many off guard. Having arrived in Barcelona before joining the Argentina national team in Alicante, he decided to visit the stadium, accompanied by club and international teammate Rodrigo De Paul. Security personnel allowed him entry, where he captured photographs on the pitch that garnered over 22 million likes on Instagram within 24 hours of posting.

This visit marked Messi’s first return to Camp Nou since his departure for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. He shared his anticipation for witnessing the stadium upon completion, noting, “I moved to Paris and never returned to Camp Nou. Now with Barça relocating to the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc, it will be strange to revisit and see it because my last experience there was a long time ago. I expect it to be an emotional return, laden with memories.”

Barcelona has been utilizing the Olympic Stadium since 2023 due to an extensive €1.5 billion renovation project at Camp Nou. The club recently held an open training session there attended by 23,000 fans and hopes to return to their renovated home before year-end, pending council approval for matches accommodating approximately 45,000 spectators.

Although the stadium refurbishment is not expected to be fully completed until at least 2027, thereby increasing its capacity to 105,000, Barça president Joan Laporta has expressed a desire to inaugurate the renovated Camp Nou with a tribute match for Messi. While Messi has not explicitly commented on this potential event, he acknowledges feeling a sense of unfinished business with the club where he holds the records for goals and appearances.

“It’s a strange feeling after leaving, especially considering how it all unfolded. My final seasons were played without fans due to the pandemic,” he shared. “Having devoted my life to the club, I did not depart as I had envisioned. I always imagined concluding my career in Europe with Barcelona before making my way to Miami, as that was my plan. Thus, my exit felt somewhat odd, given the circumstances.”