Barcelona President: Messi's Return To Camp Nou As An Unrealistic Player

Lionel Messi can return to Barcelona, but not to play competitive again (Instagram/@leomessi).

JAKARTA - Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, said that Lionel Messi's return to the club as an unrealistic player after the Inter Miami star's surprise arrival to Camp Nou this week.

The 38-year-old made an impromptu visit on Sunday, November 9, 2025, to Camp Nou, which is still in the renovation stage, before joining the Argentina National Team (Timnas) squad in Spain.

He then uploaded the photos on social media with information saying that he hoped to come back and say goodbye which he never said as a player.

In an interview with Diario Sport, Messi then reaffirmed his desire to return to the city in the future.

However, Laporta has dismissed Messi's hopes of wearing a Barcelona uniform competitively once again.

"His departure was not what we wanted. However, for the sake of my deepest respect for Messi and everyone at the club, it was inappropriate for me to spark unrealistic speculation," Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

Laporta said he was as surprised as anyone else about Messi's sudden arrival at Camp Nou last weekend.

The club's top scorer arrived without notice, alongside his team-mate at the Argentine club and national team, Rodrigo de Paul, and was allowed in by security officers.

This is the first time he has returned to the stadium since his hasty departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Laporta hopes this will be the first step to host a tribute match for him after the renovation is complete.

"I didn't know he was coming, but Camp Nou was his home. They told me what happened."

"It was a good gesture. He just finished dinner and wanted to come with some friends."

"It was a spontaneous act in the spirit of Barcelona. It's only natural that Leo has the most beautiful respect in the world."

"After the stadium is finished, the capacity will reach 105,000 spectators. So, we want it," said Laporta.

Messi spent more than 20 years at Barcelona and 17 seasons in the first team, scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances and winning 34 trophies, including 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.

He moved to PSG in 2021, before joining Inter Miami in 2023. He recently signed a contract extension to extend his tenure at the Florida club until the end of the 2028 MLS season, when he was 41.