Lionel Messi makes ‘secret’ Barcelona return

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi made a “secret” return to Barcelona on Sunday night to visit the new Spotify Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana legend left the club to Paris Saint-Germain on a Bosman deal in 2021 and he has been heavily linked with a blockbuster transfer back to the Spanish giants ever since his departure.

However, he recently poured cold water on such speculation by signing a new contract at Inter Miami to keep him at the MLS club until the end of the 2028 season.

Messi scored a brace during Inter Miami’s 4-0 victory over Nashville this weekend, sending the club into the MLS play-offs for the first time in their history in the process, before jetting to Spain to complete a Camp Nou visit described as “secret” by Fabrizio Romano.

The Barcelona stadium has been under renovation since June 2023, with the Spanish giants last playing at the ground during a 3-0 victory over Mallorca in May 2023.

The stadium reopened for a first-team training session on Friday and the Blaugrana are hoping to host their La Liga fixture versus Athletic Club on 22 November at Camp Nou. However, it’s far from guaranteed.

Lionel Messi returns to Barcelona

Despite the fact Camp Nou is still under construction, Messi returned to the stadium on Sunday night and subsequently posted a message to the Barcelona fans on Instagram.

“Last night I returned to a place I miss with my soul,” he wrote. “A place where I was immensely happy, where you guys made me feel a thousand times the happiest person in the world.

“I hope one day I can come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to…”

Messi made 778 appearances during an illustrious career at Barcelona, scoring 672 goals and winning 35 trophies, but he was forced to leave the club in August 2021 amid significant financial troubles at Camp Nou.

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