- Lionel Messi cried when he surprisingly left Barcelona two years ago in 2021
- According to reports in Spain, he could return to the team on loan next year
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
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Barcelona are considering a stunning move to bring Lionel Messi back to their youth team in January if Inter Miami fail to reach the MLS play-offs.
Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 when the club could not afford to extend his contract. It was fully expected that he would sign a new contract, but instead he said a tearful farewell at a press conference, rather than from the Nou Camp pitch.
Now, according to Spanish publication Sportthe LaLiga team is preparing a remarkable move to give Messi his chance for a good send-off.
If Miami fails to qualify for the MLS playoffs, the Spanish team will consider a move to loan him in January when the European transfer window is open.
Sport says no transfer has currently been discussed with Miami, but it is an option Barcelona are considering.
Lionel Messi is reportedly being considered for a return loan to Barcelona in January next year
Messi left Barcelona in 2021 after the Spanish team could not afford to give him a new contract
Messi cried as he said goodbye to Barcelona in an emotional press conference in 2021
Miami is currently five points out of the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with three games of the regular season remaining. However, Messi’s team cannot control its fate; three wins are crucial, as are other results heading their way.
They next play on Saturday night, with a tough game at home against Eastern Conference leader Cincinnati.
Messi has missed Miami’s last four games due to a scar tissue problem and his coach, former Barcelona manager Tata Martino, has repeatedly underlined concerns about Messi’s workload since arriving in the United States.
It is not yet clear whether Messi will be back for the match against Cincinnati, but Martino has previously said he expected the Argentina World Cup star to play again this season.
He was also called up by his country for the next two World Cup qualifiers later this month, which is likely an indication that he is nearing a return.
If Miami reaches the postseason, that could mean Messi remains in action until December 9, when the MLS Cup final is played.
That would then, according to the report in Spain, appear to end any chance of Messi returning to his team to play.
And even if a competitive return to Barcelona does not materialize, Miami is open to ensuring Messi gets his moment with his old team.
Messi has made an exciting start to life at Miami but has recently struggled with injury
According to Spanish reports, Barcelona has not yet spoken to David Beckham’s team
Jorge Mas, who co-owns the MLS team with David Beckham, has spoken about plans to host a friendly between the two sides at the Camp Nou.
‘Messi’s departure from Barcelona was not to his liking. He could not say goodbye to his club, which welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted,” Mas told Marca in Spain earlier this week.
‘I have given (Messi) the promise that I will do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona.
‘Inter Miami goes (to Barcelona) or we have some kind of match.’