Lionel Messi reveals Desire to Return to Barcelona, Family Misses Life in Spain
Lionel Messi has publicly expressed his longing to return to Barcelona, stating that he and his family deeply miss their life in the city. The revelation comes as Barcelona’s iconic Camp Nou stadium undergoes a massive renovation, slated for completion in 2026, and after Messi’s stint with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Messi spent nearly two decades with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League titles, before a financially-driven departure to Paris saint-Germain in 2021.He described leaving Barcelona as not happening “as I had dreamed of,” particularly due to playing his final seasons without fans present as of the pandemic. This news underscores the enduring emotional connection between one of the greatest footballers of all time and the club where he cemented his legendary status, and fuels speculation about a potential future return.
“We miss Barcelona a lot,” Messi told Spanish outlet Diario Sport. “With the kids, continuously, and my wife, we speak about things in Barcelona. The idea is to return there to live. We have our house there,everything,so that’s what we want.”
After two seasons at PSG, Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, where he has already secured two trophies – the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield – and is aiming for the MLS Cup. Despite his success in Miami, the pull of Barcelona remains strong.
“It’s a strange feeling after leaving, as of how it all happened,” Messi said. “After spending all my life there, I didn’t leave as I had dreamed of.”
Barcelona is currently playing its home matches at the city’s olympic Stadium while Camp Nou is renovated, with the updated stadium expected to hold nearly 105,000 spectators.Inter Miami is also planning a new stadium, set to open next year with a capacity of 25,000.
“I imagined myself spending my whole career in Europe in Barcelona and then coming here [to Miami] as I did, because that was my plan,” Messi explained. “So, my goodbye was a little strange, because of the situation.”
