Argentine icon and current Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi has revealed once again his emotional attachment to FC Barcelona, the club where he built his legendary career. In a heartfelt interview with Sport, Messi reflected on his sudden departure in 2021, calling it one of the most difficult moments of his life, while also expressing a strong desire to return and live again in a city that is still dear to him and his family.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, revealed that he still feels a strong emotional connection to the Catalan capital, which he has never left in his mind.
“I really want to go back to the Bara stadium when it’s over because I haven’t been back to Camp Nou since I left for Paris either,” Messi said. “We miss Barcelona a lot. My wife and kids talk about it all the time. We have our house there, everything, so we want to be there again.”
His words come just days after his silence, a private visit to the under-renovated Camp Nou on November 10his first since leaving Barcelona three years ago. The moment carried immense sentiment for both Messi and the fans who still consider him the heart of the club.
The 38-year-old recalled how he and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Surez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who have now reunited with him at Inter Miami, still keep a close eye on their old club. “We all talk about what’s happening at Bara, the results and how the team is playing,” Messi said, adding that the connection goes much deeper than professional ties.
Messi reflected on his two-year spell with the Catalan giants and said he now looks back on those days with more appreciation.
“I really miss all those moments in the Bar. Maybe I enjoy them more now than then,” he admitted. “At the time it was just game after game, we kept realizing how special it all was.
Messi’s tearful exit in 2021 came after Barcelona’s financial crisis prevented them from extending his contract. His forced move to Paris Saint-Germain marked the end of an era that saw him score 672 goals, win 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and become the club’s greatest ever.
With Barcelona’s new Camp Nou expected to reopen in 2026, club president Joan Laporta has already hinted that he will host a spectacular match for Messi, a symbolic homecoming that could finally offer the farewell the player and fans deserve.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 11, 2025
