Could Lionel Messi (37, Inter Miami) become the new face of Barcelona's new stadium? Barcelona is reportedly keen to bring him back.
According to 'TNT Sports' on the 20th (Korea time), Barcelona is doing its utmost to re-sign Messi, a club legend. There is a possibility of his return before the 2026-2027 season.
Messi made his first-team debut in 2004 after going through Barcelona's youth system. He became an iconic figure for the team but transferred to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) before the 2021-2022 season.
His transfer was an inevitable decision due to Barcelona's financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 and La Liga regulations.
During approximately 20 years at Barcelona, Messi recorded 672 goals and 305 assists in 778 games. He won the La Liga title 10 times, the UEFA Champions League 4 times, and the Copa del Rey 7 times, lifting numerous trophies. Additionally, he won the Ballon d'Or 6 times while at Barcelona, remaining the greatest player in the club's history.
In his first season after transferring to PSG, Messi struggled with adaptation issues and injuries, scoring only 6 league goals (11 official goals), falling short of expectations. He later transferred to Major League Soccer (MLS) Inter Miami before the 2023-2024 season. However, he has always expressed his affection for Barcelona and has not hidden his desire to return one day.
When Messi received his 8th Ballon d'Or in 2023, he said, "I have always supported Barcelona, and I will continue to do so. Barcelona is the club I love, and it has my lifelong affection. I grew up at Barcelona and gained everything. One day, I want to return and be with the team in some way."
'TNT Sports' reported that "Barcelona aims to re-sign Messi in the summer of 2026, when he will be 39 years old." What is Barcelona's intention in wanting to re-sign Messi? 'Football España' hinted that "Barcelona is expected to unveil a new home stadium for the 2026-2027 season, and they want to bring back 'legend' Messi for the opening ceremony."
Messi is under contract with Inter Miami until the end of 2025. 'Football España' noted, "Barcelona knows that Messi won't break his contract with Inter Miami, so it recognizes that there is no possibility of signing him before 2026. Even if Barcelona wants to sign him before 2026, they cannot afford his transfer fee," explaining that Barcelona is expected to actively pursue Messi's re-signing in the summer of 2026.
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