The club’s financial health and the recent experiences behind them pushed Leo Messi to choose a different path than waiting for the culé squad to strengthen itself.
Messi’s decision to move to Inter Miami left a heavy scar on FC Barcelona. The timing coincided with whispers about the Negreira case and the looming possibility of UEFA penalties, casting doubt over the next season at Camp Nou. A return by the prodigal son would have been a major signal to steady the ship and restore confidence among supporters and investors alike.
Messi’s refusal arrived at a moment when Joan Laporta, the club’s president, faced a stark reality: the team’s immediate needs could not be ignored. The current state of the club showed that it was not performing at the level expected in top European competitions. While the season delivered intensity and competition, Messi’s reasons for not rejoining the club he helped crown with glory made the culé project’s challenges clearer than ever.
Barcelona’s finances meant that adding a marquee player required careful balance. The club needed to generate sales or negotiate salary reductions elsewhere in the squad before any blockbuster signing could become viable. The long-awaited reunion with Messi could not materialize in 2021, and the club ultimately lost the chance to keep one of its most iconic figures on the home soil for the first time.
On the latest chapter, Messi remained open to listening to his former club, but given the current financial landscape and the uncertainties of the past, he chose not to gamble with his future. He continued his career in Major League Soccer, a reality that is as clear as it is enduring. For Barcelona, the absence of the Argentine star marked a second missed opportunity to reclaim a defining era in its history.