Barcelona take apparent shot at MLS amid Lionel Messi move to Inter Miami
Barcelona took an apparent shot at Major League Soccer shortly after Lionel Messi announced his intentions to join Inter Miami this summer.
In a statement released on their official website, Barcelona said that Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, informed club president Joan Laporta of his son's decision to play for Inter Miami this past Monday "despite having been presented with a proposal from Barça, in consideration of the desire of both FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi for him to once again wear blaugrana."
Jorge Messi revealed on Monday that Lionel Messi "would love to return to Barcelona" once his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of this month. It's now clear no such homecoming will occur even though Messi made it known Wednesday he "really wanted to return to" Barcelona.
"President Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years," Barcelona continued without mentioning MLS by name.
As recently as Wednesday morning ET, Spanish football writer Guillem Balague of BBC Sport and world football transfer insider Fabrizio Romano explained why financial issues similar to those that caused Messi to leave Barcelona as a free agent two years ago prevented his desired return to the Catalan club:
According to Sky Sports News, Messi told Spanish outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport on Wednesday he was not going to spend this summer waiting for Barcelona to adjust their finances in order to sign him before the start of the 2023-24 season.
"We never even got to a stage of talking about a contract," Messi said. "A proposal was passed over, but never a formal, written, signed proposal, because there was still nothing and we did not know if it was going to be possible or not. There was the intention, but we couldn't advance anything, we didn't even talk about money formally."
Barcelona seemed to close the door on any desperate final attempt to sign the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner after his interview.
"Both Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi also agreed to work together to promote a proper tribute from Barça fans to honor a footballer who has been, is, and always will be beloved by Barça," the Spanish giants said in their release.
Sky Sports News added that Messi "remained hurt by the manner of his departure from the Nou Camp two years ago" that was "not a decision of his own making" ahead of his move to Paris Saint-Germain:
Wednesday's developments indicate the relationship between Barcelona and the living legend remains strained even though Messi is not yet officially an Inter Miami player.
"We are pleased that Lionel Messi has stated that he intends to join Inter Miami and Major League Soccer this summer," MLS said in a brief statement. "Although work remains to finalize a formal agreement, we look forward to welcoming one of the greatest soccer players of all time to our League."
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