Neither the Catalan club nor the player himself would benefit from a return to Barcelona.
In February 2012, Thierry Henry scored his last goal for Arsenal. It was romantic: the Frenchman returned home in the 90th minute to claim a 2-1 win against Sunderland. Henry was signed to the New York Red Bulls at the time, but made an emotional and unforgettable return to North London. It didn’t matter that the club’s all-time leading scorer only added two more.
Arsenal didn’t really need Henry, and he didn’t need to return to Arsenal. Perhaps it might have been better to go elsewhere to rack up 98+ minutes during his enforced hiatus from MLS.
Over eleven years later, it is said that Lionel Messi could get the chance to follow a similar path. With Inter Miami mathematically eliminated from the MLS playoffs, Messi will have almost four months without competing at club level. That’s why the Argentine has been linked with a spectacular return to Barcelona in the January transfer window.
You can almost hear the roar from Montjuic’s Olympic Stadium – Barça’s temporary home ground – if that inevitable Leo goal were to come. But apart from the obvious barriers (Barca’s massive financial problems preventing them from spending in the winter), Messi’s glorious return wouldn’t necessarily be something to celebrate. It would be a bad idea for all parties involved.
Source: Goal