Inside Barcelona's Lionel Messi tribute plans after Inter Miami rejection
Lionel Messi refused a return to Catalonia to seek a new chapter in the United States, but it appears that his decision has had no impact on plans for a major memorial in the coming years.
Despite the renowned forward's refusal to return, Barcelona's president has sworn to honor plans to pay respect to Lionel Messi's trophy-laden stint with the club.
The iconic Argentine had been linked with a return to Catalonia after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, but astonished the world by rejecting his former employers in favor of a move to Major League Soccer. However, any disappointment that the 36-year-old will be leaving for Inter Miami appears to have subsided at Camp Nou.
Now, it appears that preparations are in the works for the World Cup winner to return to his old haunts to commemorate the reopening of the Blaugrana's home stadium. Barcelona have moved out of their iconic 99,000-seater venue ahead of next season, with renovations starting begun to turn the primarily open-air arena into a cutting-edge complex.
The €1.5 billion (£1.89 billion) renovation will boost the capacity of the world-renowned stadium to a massive 105,000 seats, but the construction will force Xavi Hernandez and his squad to play in the city's Olympic Stadium next season. The five-time European winners will then return to the stadium, completing plans that have been in the works for almost a year.
Their return appears to be in the shape of a tribute game to commemorate Messi's services to the club he served with distinction 778 times, winning four Champions Leagues and ten La Liga crowns along the way.
"We told him that we understood [his decision] and that the Cules did as well," stated club president Joan Laporta. His home will always be Barça. I wish him luck in Miami.
"I told him we were planning a fantastic tribute." We must remember the great players' memories. I'm hoping it'll be when Camp Nou reopens [in 2025]."
Messi's choice to explore a new chapter in the United States elicited a response from the Catalan club's powers-that-be, which was largely unprecedented. Despite some disappointment that he had refused a return, a statement made in the aftermath of the player's next career step appeared to indicate that the Argentinian superstar's decision was honored.
"Jorge Messi, the player's father and representative, informed club president Joan Laporta of the player's decision to join Inter Miami," according to the statement. Despite having been provided with a proposition from Barcelona, in consideration of both Barcelona's and Messi's wish for him to once again wear the club's colors.
"President Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and pressure he has faced in recent years."
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