BARCELONA: Barcelona fans’ desire to see club legend Lionel Messi back with the Catalan squad has been described as ‘unrealistic’, club president Joan Laporta has said.
The 38-year-old Argentine star made a surprise appearance at the Camp Nou Stadium on Sunday and expressed his hope of returning to the club one day to ‘not just say goodbye as a player but something he has never done before’.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona’s all-time top scorer left the club in 2021 after two decades of service, following serious financial problems that left Barca unable to retain his services.
“Out of deep respect for Messi, the club’s professional staff and the members of Barcelona, I think it is inappropriate to make unrealistic speculations. It is not appropriate,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio.
Laporta, who was also at the helm of the club when Messi left Barca, insisted he did not regret the decision because ‘Barcelona is above everything’.
Despite ruling out the possibility of Messi returning as a player, Laporta confirmed the club intends to hold a special tribute match to celebrate the Argentine star’s career once the Camp Nou stadium is fully renovated.
“The previous farewell didn’t go as we had hoped. If this tribute event can make up for what we didn’t get to do, I think it’s a good thing,” he said.
“Messi deserves the biggest honour in the world, and it would be wonderful if it were to happen in front of our 105,000 fans.”
Laporta also described the Inter Miami striker’s surprise visit to Camp Nou last Sunday as a spontaneous act that reflected his love for his old club.