Inter Miami are keen to try and arrange a friendly with Barcelona to allow Lionel Messi to say a ‘proper goodbye’ to his former team.
Messi played for Barcelona for 17 years between 2004 and 2021, making over 700 appearances for the side and scoring nearly 650 goal as he picked up countless trophies.
The 36-year-old won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Cope del Reys while with the club, also picking up six of his seven Ballon d’Ors while a Barcelona player.
But he left two years ago and was reduced to tears when he said his goodbyes, with the club no longer able to afford his salary due to financial issues off the field.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas, however, speaking to MLS Soccer, has expressed his desire to reunite his new star with his former side to say goodbye properly.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has expressed his desire to arrange a friendly between Inter Miami and Barcelona
He is keen to give new Miami signing Lionel Messi the chance to say a ‘proper goodbye’ to Barcelona
Messi was reduced to tears when it was confirmed he was leaving Barca in 2021 due to the club’s financial issues
‘Hopefully Lionel Messi can say his proper goodbye. He deserves his correct goodbye there, yes,’ Mas said.
‘I will do everything in my power in order to facilitate, and help him do that because he’s deserving of that.’
If the game is to be played at the Nou Camp, it will have to wait as construction on the ground takes place, with Barca set to play their home games at the Olympic Stadium next season.
Messi spent two years in France with PSG after waving his goodbyes to Barca, but failed to settle before leaving earlier this year.
He was strongly linked with a return to Barcelona, as well as the Saudi Pro League, but instead opted to move Stateside and join Miami.
He was linked with a return to Barca, where he enjoyed 17 years of success, when he left PSG earlier this transfer window
He instead opted to join Inter Miami, and has scored three goals in his first two games for the club
Messi’s father – and agent – Jorge Messi admitted during negotiations that he would have loved his son to have moved back to Spain.
‘Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I’d love to see him back to Barca,’ he said. ‘Barca move is an option for sure.’
But he ended up in North America and continues to excite fans of Inter after two impressive performances so far.
Messi netted a dramatic late free kick against Cruz Azul on his debut to give his side a 2-1 win before scoring a brace against Atlanta in a 4-0 win in his second game.
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