Lionel Messi made a surprise return to Camp Nou this week for the first time since his emotional exit in 2021, but it looks like the 2022 World Cup winner is already planning a reunion
Lionel Messi has admitted he wanted to spend his entire career at Barcelona after making a surprise return to the club. The Argentine left Camp Nou in 2021, but the club was unable to renew his contract due to the dire financial situation.
Since then, Messi has continued to play for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. But earlier this week, supporters were surprised by behind-the-scenes photos of the Camp Nou, which is undergoing major renovations.
Alongside the photo, Messi wrote, “Last night I returned to a place that is dear to my heart.” “This is where I was so happy and where you made me feel a thousand times more like the happiest person in the world.
“I hope that I can come back someday. It’s not just a farewell to the player I never was…”
Messi has now spoken out for the first time, insisting that he has always had the ambition to retire with the Catalan giants and is not happy with the parting. He told SPORT:
read more: Lionel Messi opens door to sensational return to Barcelona – ‘I hope someday’read more: Lionel Messi explains his retirement plans after Cristiano Ronaldo enrolls
“After leaving, I was left with a strange feeling, because because of the way everything happened, we ended up playing the last few years without fans because of the pandemic. After spending my whole life there, I couldn’t leave the way I had imagined, the way I had dreamed.
“As I said, I spent my whole career playing in Europe, in Barcelona, and yeah, I imagined coming here like I did, because that was my plan and what I wanted. And, well, the parting was also a little strange because of the circumstances and everything. But yeah, I think the love of the fans will always be there because of what I said and everything that we went through.”
And although he stopped short of suggesting he would play for Barcelona again, he would like to return to live there. He added: “I’m really looking forward to going there.
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“We miss Barcelona very much. My wife and kids always talk about Barcelona and the idea of living there. We have a house there and everything, so that’s what we want.”
“I haven’t been back to Camp Nou since I moved to Paris and then moved to Montjuic, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to the stadium when it’s over.
“It will be strange to go back and see the new stadium, because it’s been so long since the last time I saw it. It will be exciting to relive and remember all those moments, even if the stadium is different. As always, thank you for all the support.”
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