REVEALED: Lionel Messi’s feelings over Barcelona return after contact made

Robin Bairner

23 Oct 2025 08:14 BST
4 min read

Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Inter Miami — © IMAGO

Lionel Messi has made it clear about how he feels about Barcelona president Joan Laporta amid rumours that the Catalan club have been in contact with the icon over a potential return.

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In September, it was claimed that Laporta is eager to build bridges with the Inter Miami star, who departed the club in the summer of 2021 after Barca could not afford to register his new contract.

Messi’s relationship with the club has since been described as “fractured”, yet the president is eager to get the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner back onside as he seeks to defend his position in the upcoming election.

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The 38-year-old’s position on healing old wounds is very clear, according to Jordi Mestre, former vice-president of sport at Barcelona.

He told the Sports360 Podcast: “I know from third parties that Leo Messi and his family are very angry with Laporta. Very angry. That talk about fixing things over a barbecue - well, we’ve seen how that turned out: nothing.”

Mestre believes that Barcelona need to make a grand gesture towards the World Cup winner to cement his legacy.

“I think anything we do for Leo Messi will never be enough. Yes, he earned a good salary, but he more than earned it. He made the club a lot of money. World-class players wanted to come because Leo Messi was here,” he said.

“I would do something historic for him - something that ensures his name lives on from generation to generation. I don’t know, maybe a Leo Messi stand or something like that.”

Why did Messi’s relationship with Barcelona break down?

As Barcelona’s greatest ever player, holding the record for appearances, goals and assists at the club, Messi’s exit via the backdoor of the club has cast a shadow over his time with the Blaugrana.

He departed for PSG in the summer of 2021 when the club failed to provide him a new contract because it would have been impossible to register him.

Messi has since had a strained relationship with Laporta, who he found disrespectful for claiming he could have remained at Barca and played for free.

“Never at any moment did they ask me to play for free. They asked me to reduce my salary by 50% and I did it without any problem. We were willing to help the club more. My desire and that of my family was to stay in Barcelona,” he told Sport (via ESPN)

“No one asked me to play for free, but at the same time the president's words were inappropriate. It hurt because I don't think there was any need to say that.

“It's like taking the ball from you and not accepting the responsibility or taking charge of things. That makes people think and generates doubts that I don't think I deserve.”

For Laporta, healing this rift with Messi would be a popular move among fans and would be a significant step to re-election in Barcelona’s most powerful position.

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