Lionel Messi had the chance to return to Barcelona in 2023, but the Argentine opted against it in favor of a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami. Former president of the Catalan side, Joan Laporta, has now shed light on the decision.
Joan Laporta Confirms Barcelona Made Push To Re-Sign Lionel Messi in 2023
Barcelona could not renew Messi’s contract in 2021 due to the club’s financial crisis, forcing him to leave. He had options but chose to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.
The Argentine did not renew his deal with the Ligue 1 side in 2023, as he did not enjoy a successful spell on the pitch. He was a free agent once again and had offers from Barcelona, Inter Miami, and the Saudi Pro League.
Speaking on the “Café d’Idees” programme on 2CAT, then-club president Laporta revealed that they were keen on re-signing the club legend. He claimed they did everything possible to convince the forward, but he opted to join Inter Miami.
“At the time, an attempt was made in 2023, but Messi preferred to go to Inter Miami for various reasons. He made this decision, which is very respectable.”
Laporta also commented on the 2021 exit, saying that Messi wanted to stay at the club, but they did not have the resources to renew his contract. The club was well over La Liga’s wage limit and had to cut wages, which saw the Argentine taking home a much larger share than the other players.
“The environment was not averse to going to PSG. It was a very tempting offer, but I am convinced that he wanted to stay. We tried, but Barça’s finances could not support it. I am convinced that you can always do more in life. Everything can be improved, even though the situation was dire.”
Messi has also confirmed in his previous interviews that he wanted to rejoin Barcelona, but opted against it because the players would have needed to take a wage cut. He did not want to put the players or the club under more financial pressure and thus decided to make the switch to the MLS.
The Argentine has been in fine form since moving to the Eastern Conference side in 2023, winning silverware in all three seasons. He helped them win the Leagues Cup within the first few weeks and followed it up with the MLS Supporters’ Shield in the 2024 season.
The Barcelona legend was in red-hot form last season, playing a key role as they went on to win the MLS Cup.
