Messi's return to Barcelona is no joke

Leo Messi is at a crossroads in his career. His contract with Inter Miami ends in December 2025, but an earlier end may be in the cards.

It's not that Messi has lost motivation, nor is it that he is no longer excited. But for someone who has dedicated his life to football like Messi, a final World Cup - in the US - deserves to be prepared in more ideal conditions than MLS, a friendly but uncompetitive tournament.

When Camp Nou calls

MLS currently operates its own schedule, running from February to December – meaning Messi would be out of action for nearly three months before the World Cup if he stayed. And that's not an option the 38-year-old is willing to bet on.

Time is running out, and the ideal space to play top-level football is shrinking. In that context, FC Barcelona suddenly returns like a gentle note from the past.

According to Betfair , Barcelona is the number one candidate for Messi's signature if he decides to leave Inter Miami in December. Not Bayern, not PSG, and certainly not Saudi Arabia. It's Barca - where he scored 672 goals, had 303 assists, won 35 titles and 7 out of 8 Ballons d'Or. Where he is living history, a cultural icon, an irreplaceable image in the minds of millions of fans.

This is not just an emotional deal. Barca under Hansi Flick are rebuilding, with a talented generation, a new Camp Nou stadium about to open and clear Champions League ambitions.

If anyone can ignite the fire and end the crisis with a happy ending, it can only be Messi. Moreover, Barcelona has just paid the final amount (5.95 million euros) owed to him - as a move to close the financial grudge to pave the way for the future.

Messi's contract with Inter Miami expires in December.

Four years ago, Messi had to leave Barca in tears because of financial barriers from La Liga. Today, that barrier has gradually faded, and the promise of "coming back when possible" has never lost its value. The farewell match never happened. And the new Camp Nou could be the place to witness the final concert of the "magician" wearing the number 10 shirt.

If not Barcelona, then Newell's Old Boys - where Messi began his football journey - is an emotional second choice. The atmosphere in Rosario is becoming more exciting at the prospect of the "great son" returning to play football in his homeland for the first time in nearly 25 years.

His love for Newell's is not a coincidence. Messi once told of sitting in the stands with his father and uncle to watch Maradona make his debut in the red and black shirt. It was Diego's shirt that Messi wore again 27 years later, to pay tribute to his hero when he passed away. His love for Newell's was so deep that a stand at the Coloso Marcelo Bielsa home stadium was named after him.

Even the fact that Angel Di María - a close friend and long-time teammate - is preparing to join Rosario Central, Newell's arch-rival, makes the prospect of a "Rosario derby" with Messi's participation in an unprecedented emotional battle.

Other Destinations - Unreal Dreams

Messi has made it clear that he does not want to play for any European team other than Barcelona. And although nothing is certain in football, the possibility of him going to Bayern, PSG, or English teams like Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal is almost impossible.

The Middle East? Even more so. For Messi, speed and rhythm are key to maintaining form, something Saudi Arabian football has struggled to match.

Messi's future is in question.

In fact, Messi has not been a central figure in the Argentina squad since the 2022 World Cup. He has been absent from three training sessions and has come off the bench in four others. That does not mean Messi is no longer valuable - on the contrary, he is saving himself, choosing the moment to explode one last time, at the World Cup in the United States - where it all started in MLS, and could end on a high, if prepared properly.

Messi may not be at his physical peak, but what he has – his intelligence, his influence, his greatness – remains intact. And at the end of his career, what he needs is not just a team, but a place to write a worthy final chapter of his legacy.

The new Camp Nou, the new Barcelona, is opening its doors to welcome him back. And if that reunion happens, it will not be just a contract, but a true fairy tale – about return, forgiveness, and love that never dies.

Source: https://znews.vn/messi-ve-lai-barcelona-khong-phai-tro-dua-post1565633.html