Eric Masip, adviser to Catalan club Barcelona president Joan Laporta, spoke in a recent interview about the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the Blaugrana camp during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Masip emphasized that the main ingredient missing from any potential deal was Messi’s own willingness to return. He suggested that, given the right conditions and mutual desire, a comeback could be on the table.
“Can Messi come back? Yes, I think so. Under the circumstances discussed, yes. If Messi wanted to be here, he would make an effort. The Barcelona president wanted Messi to come back because his departure was both bitter and sweet, but he had to put the club first,” Masip explained. He noted that the relationship between Messi and the club’s leadership had cooled and then found a path toward normalcy over time. Masip also affirmed that Laporta’s view—that Messi could end his career at Barcelona—was worth considering and that the president held a genuine wish to see the star return when the moment was right.
Messi’s career path in recent seasons included a stint with Paris Saint-Germain in France, followed by a move to Inter Miami in the United States in the summer of 2023. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner marked his Inter Miami debut with a memorable free-kick goal in the first leg of a competition, signaling his ongoing impact on the pitch and his ability to influence big games wherever he plays.
Beyond the club level, speculation about Messi’s future has often intersected with broader conversations about leadership and potential coaching changes in national teams. In recent times, there has been talk about candidates who could become the new head coach for a major national team, underscoring Messi’s enduring influence in the sport and the way his decisions may shape football conversations across continents.