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672 Barca goals
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On Sunday night, Lionel Messi made a secret return to Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium and expressed his desire to say goodbye to his beloved supporters in the future. The Argentinian departed his boyhood club for PSG in 2021 due to Barca’s well-documented financial issues. Messi never had the opportunity to say farewell to the Barca supporters as his exit was imminent and there was only time for an emotional press conference.
But for the first time since leaving, Messi returned to the Camp Nou and posted a message with photographs on his Instagram account. He wrote: “Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my soul. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world. I hope that one day I’ll be able to come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I was never able to do!”
Barcelona plan Lionel Messi tribute
Messi recently committed his long-term future to Inter Miami by signing a new contract until 2028. The 38-year-old is happy in the United States and it’s near impossible to envisage him back in a Barcelona jersey, unless there is a strategic loan move. The Camp Nou is currently undergoing a renovation and Barca president Joan Laporta wants to honour Messi when the iconic stadium is complete.
Asking about paying tribute to Messi, Laporta said: “Of course, I’d love that. It would be a beautiful way to show gratitude and recognition. When we reach 100,000 capacity, we’ll be able to hold the tribute he, the club, and everything we achieved together deserve. But it probably won’t happen before the end of 2026, since that’s when club elections will take place. I don’t know if I’ll still be president then, but if I am, I’d be very happy to lead Messi’s tribute at the stadium.”
