Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that in 2023, Lionel Messi opted to join Inter Miami instead of returning to Barcelona. Despite ongoing rumors suggesting the Argentine star was eager to rejoin his longtime club after leaving in 2021, the forward decided to take a different path when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ended. Laporta emphasized that Messi’s choice was based on several factors and that Barcelona respected his decision.
Speaking on the Café d’Idees program on 2CAT, Laporta stated that Barcelona did pursue Messi once his deal with PSG expired, but ultimately the player preferred a move to the MLS team, Inter Miami. This preference was accepted as a dignified choice.
“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”, he said (via Barca Universal).
Why Messi Left Barcelona and His Career Path Since
Lionel Messi departed Barcelona in 2021 due to the club’s severe financial difficulties, which prevented them from renewing his contract. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer but never appeared fully settled at the French club according to his own reflections. After his stint at PSG, Messi expressed interest in returning to Barcelona and was engaged in efforts to secure a reunion.
However, negotiations shifted, and Messi eventually chose to negotiate with Inter Miami, signing an initial contract for two and a half years with the MLS franchise. Though he has expressed hopes to live in Barcelona once he leaves the United States, his current deal extends until 2028, indicating a long-term commitment to the American club for now.
Barcelona’s Proposed Contract and League Restrictions
Details of Barcelona’s 2023 offer to Messi were disclosed by Joan Laporta in his newly published book, How We Saved Barca, released on February 24th. Laporta explained that after Messi decided not to renew with PSG, Barcelona quickly devised an innovative contract plan.
The proposal involved Messi signing a long-term contract with Barcelona, but spending the initial period with the club followed by a loan tenure to an MLS team. Unfortunately for Barcelona, LaLiga rejected this approach, as it required the club to enter into an agreement to sell a portion of their television rights for 50 years to a fund called CVC, a demand Barcelona was unwilling to accept.
“We came up with a crazy solution: a long-term contract with a first stage as a Barca player and a second on loan to an MLS team. But LaLiga told us to forget it, that we had to sign an agreement to sell a percentage of the television rights for 50 years through a fund called CVC. Jorge Messi came to my house, I prepare the contract, I send him the draft and he doesn’t answer me. A week goes by, two… a month later, he finally comes back to my house and tells me that they have decided to go to Inter Miami, where he will not be under so much pressure”, he wrote (via Marca).
Impact of Messi’s Move to Inter Miami
Lionel Messi’s transfer to Inter Miami was greatly influenced by the efforts of the club’s owners, including David Beckham and the Mas brothers, who worked tirelessly to secure his signature. Since joining the MLS team, Messi has enjoyed considerable success, guiding Inter Miami to four titles within three years.
His presence has significantly raised the club’s profile in American soccer and has attracted global attention to the MLS. While Messi has indicated a desire to return to Barcelona at some point in the future, the current arrangement reflects a new chapter in his career that differs from the anticipated homecoming many fans hoped for in 2023.
