Lionel Messi’s love for Barcelona is the kind of story that gets fans misty-eyed—a kid from Rosario who became the club’s beating heart, weaving magic at Camp Nou for nearly two decades. But on April 18, 2025, the 37-year-old legend opened up about a dream that slipped away: his chance to return to the Blaugrana after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. Speaking on the YouTube channel Simplemente Fútbol, Messi laid bare his longing to go back to the place he calls home, and why it just didn’t work out. It’s a tale of hope, heartbreak, and a club tangled in its own struggles.
“I had the intention of returning to Barcelona, to go back to a place I always wanted to be,” Messi said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who’d pictured it all—pulling on that iconic blue-and-red jersey one more time, hearing the roar of the Camp Nou crowd. “But it was not possible again.” He didn’t point fingers or spill every detail, but the pieces are clear enough. Barcelona’s financial mess, a saga that’s haunted the club for years, stood in the way. It’s the same reason he had to leave in 2021, tears streaming down his face, when the club couldn’t afford to keep their greatest-ever player.
Back in 2023, Messi was coming off two rocky years at PSG. Sure, he won two Ligue 1 titles and a Trophée des Champions, but Paris never felt right. “I didn’t feel comfortable,” he admitted, and you can imagine why—a city far from home, a club that couldn’t crack the Champions League code, and personal challenges that made settling in tough. When his PSG contract ran out that June, Messi saw a chance to rewrite his Barcelona story. Fans dreamed of it too, flooding social media with pleas for his return. “My objective was to go back,” he said, and for a moment, it seemed like the stars might align.
But Barcelona was in no shape to welcome him. The club was drowning in debt—over €1.3 billion by some counts—with a wage bill La Liga demanded they slash by €200 million. To bring Messi back, they’d have needed to sell players or cut salaries, a move that would’ve gutted the squad. “I heard they had to offload players or reduce wages,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo and SPORT at the time, “and I didn’t want to be part of that or take responsibility for it.” He’d been through enough in 2021, when his exit left fans reeling and the club in chaos. Forcing his way back only to spark more pain wasn’t the ending he wanted.
Instead, Messi made a choice that surprised many: he packed his bags for Inter Miami in the MLS, joining David Beckham’s project in Florida. It wasn’t his first pick—leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup had him dreaming of a European encore—but it’s kept him sharp. He’s been electric in Miami, racking up goals, breaking records, and boosting the league’s profile. Still, you can hear the what-ifs in his voice when he talks about Barcelona. “It was a family decision,” he said, hinting at how his wife, Antonella, and their three kids shaped the move. After years of upheaval, stability mattered more than chasing a fairy-tale return.
The confession hit fans hard. On X, posts lit up with reactions—one called it “gut-wrenching to hear Leo wanted to come back but couldn’t,” while another thanked him for “always loving Barça.” Some pointed to club president Joan Laporta, blaming him for fumbling the chance. There’s truth to the tension—Laporta promised fans he’d bring Messi back, but the numbers never added up. Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué, Messi’s biographer, has even said a return’s “impossible” while Laporta’s in charge, citing bad blood from the 2021 exit. Whether that’s the full story or not, it’s clear the club’s financial woes were the real roadblock.
Barcelona’s moved on in its own way. Under coach Hansi Flick, they’re topping La Liga and eyeing a Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan. Young stars like Lamine Yamal—whom Messi praised as “already one of the best in the world”—are carrying the torch. But for fans, there’s a hole where Messi used to be. “It’s like a love story that never got its happy ending,” one supporter posted on X. Messi’s not ruling out a future role—maybe as an ambassador when he hangs up his boots—but for now, he’s focused on Miami, with his contract running through 2025 and talks of an extension.
As he spoke about Barcelona, you could feel the pull of the city, the club, the memories. It’s where he became a legend, scoring 672 goals and winning 10 La Liga titles. It’s where he wanted to retire. But sometimes, even the greatest dreams don’t come true. For Messi, that’s a tough pill to swallow—and for fans, it’s a reminder that even the beautiful game can break your heart.