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Barcelona president Joan Laporta has described the prospect of Lionel Messi returning to the Catalan club as “unrealistic,” despite the Argentine superstar’s recent visit to Camp Nou.
The 38-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barca’s all-time leading scorer left the club in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain after financial difficulties prevented the Spanish giants from retaining him.
Messi surprised fans with a visit to the stadium on Sunday night, expressing his hope that he could one day return “not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Laporta, who was president when Messi departed, stressed that speculation about a return is unfair and inappropriate.
“Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals at the club, Barca, and the Barca club members, I believe that now, for me to make speculation that is unrealistic… is not appropriate,” he told Catalunya Radio.
However, the club chief confirmed plans to honour Messi with a tribute match at the rebuilt Camp Nou once it fully reopens.
“Things didn’t end the way we would have liked… If, in some way, this tribute can make up for what wasn’t done, I think it would be a good thing,” Laporta said, adding that it would be fitting for the Argentina forward to receive “the best tribute in the world” in front of 105,000 fans.
Laporta described Messi’s weekend appearance as “spontaneous” and a demonstration of the forward’s enduring affection for Barcelona.
Messi is currently in Spain with Argentina’s national team ahead of a friendly against Angola.
