The football world was stunned when Lionel Messi announced that he was leaving Barcelona in August 2021, after spending his entire career with the Catalan giants. The Argentine forward had become the face of the club, winning countless titles, breaking numerous records, and captivating fans around the globe with his dazzling skills and unmatched passion for the sport.
However, due to the financial difficulties of Barcelona and the constraints of La Liga's salary cap, Messi's contract renewal negotiations fell apart, leaving the 34-year-old superstar without a team for the first time in his professional career. Messi had to explore his options, and he eventually signed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, one of the few clubs that could afford his hefty wages and competitive ambitions.
While Messi's move to PSG created a lot of buzz and hype, especially with the prospect of playing alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, many Barcelona supporters were heartbroken by his departure. They wondered if they would ever see him in their iconic colours again. Some even blamed the club's mismanagement and lack of vision for losing their most significant asset and feared that Barcelona's glory days were over.
However, as Messi settled in Paris and began his new chapter, rumours started to circulate that he might return to Barcelona sooner than expected, not as a rival but as a hero. The idea of Messi coming back to Camp Nou as a player was unlikely, given his age, contract, and loyalty to PSG, but the notion of him returning as a coach or an executive was gaining momentum.
Messi's departure from Barcelona was not entirely amicable, and he and the club's new president, Joan Laporta, have exchanged criticism regarding the way he left during the summer.
Despite the apparent tension, Messi has shown a strong interest in returning to Barca in a non-playing capacity in the near future. When asked about his return to Barca at the end of his career, Messi stated: "Yes, I have always said that I would love to be able to assist the club in any way that could be useful and contribute to its success.
"I would love to be a technical director at some point, whether it is in Barcelona or not. If there is an opportunity, I would like to contribute once again to the club that I love, and I would like to see it continue to thrive, grow, and be one of the best in the world."
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