Lionel Messi has openly spoken about his failed attempt to complete a dream return to Barcelona after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Messi was constantly linked with a comeback to Catalonia when his contract with PSG expired at the end of the 2022/23 season.
His two years in Paris were not particularly joyful, as he initially chose to join the French club as a free agent from Barcelona.
However, with Barcelona’s financial situation still in chaos, the club was unable to secure a deal to bring back their iconic number 10.
Messi ultimately decided to move to the United States, joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami in June 2023.
The move to Florida has kept Messi in form, while his career continues to draw global attention, even though it wasn’t his first choice after his World Cup triumph with Argentina in 2022.
“After the 2022 World Cup, I didn’t see myself playing for any other European team besides Barça,” he said in an interview with the YouTube channel Simplemente Fútbol
“My goal was always to return. I wanted to go back home, to where it all began.
But unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
Messi is nearing a decision about his future with Inter Miami, with his current contract set to expire at the end of 2025, in line with the MLS season.
His plan to lead Argentina at the 2026 World Cup remains on track, and he is expected to sign an extension at least until after the tournament.
Inter Miami could offer him three options: to leave after the World Cup, to renew until the end of 2026, or to stay until the conclusion of the 2026 MLS season.
The club is open to keeping Messi until the end of 2027, if terms are agreed, but everything will depend on when the 37-year-old decides to retire from football.
