A Barcelona executive has revealed why a deal never materialised for club icon Lionel Messi to return to the club after he left Paris Saint-Germain.
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In 2023, the Argentine superstar’s contract with Les Parisiens came to an end, and there were rumblings that he could end up playing for the Catalan giants once again. The record Ballon d’Or winner had left the Camp Nou in 2021 after the club were unable to renew his contract due to financial constraints, and it was suggested that a return to his boyhood club could transpire.
It is believed there was mutual interest from both Barça and Messi’s camp to make the deal happen, but ultimately it never came to fruition. In a recent interview, the club’s sporting director Deco — who had just taken up his new role at the time — revealed that it was probably for the best.
“People were talking about Arabia, Miami… Messi’s story is so great, he’s the greatest player in Barcelona’s history, that maybe there are no repetitions. Sometimes it involves personal issues,” the former playmaker Deco told Globo Esporte.
“He may have wanted to go to Miami. After Paris, the most important thing was for him to find himself again and be happy. Maybe that wouldn’t have happened at Barcelona, because the pressure would have been too much,” he added.
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“I think it was good for everyone. Barcelona continued on its path, trying to rebuild itself. And Messi continued on his path, scoring goals and being happy.”
