Argentine star Lionel Messi left Barcelona in 2021 with tears in his eyes after many years at the club. It was a sad goodbye, but he hoped to return one day. However, that return never happened. In 2023, Messi moved far from Europe and joined Inter Miami in the United States. He recently spoke about not going back to Barcelona and praised young talent Lamine Yamal, who is rising at the club.
On Thursday, Messi gave an interview on the YouTube channel Simply Football. He talked about his past, present, future, and family. Before joining Inter Miami, there were rumors he might go back to Barcelona after leaving PSG. Even Barcelona coach Xavi said there were talks. But things didn’t work out.
Messi explained, “After winning the World Cup, I didn’t want to play for any European club except Barcelona. That was my home, where it all began. But sadly, going back wasn’t possible. It was a family decision. The World Cup win changed a lot for us. I was clear that I didn’t want to play for another club in Europe. So, we chose Miami for a new experience, especially for my family.”
Messi couldn’t return to Barcelona because of money problems. The same financial issues that made him leave earlier still existed. To pay Messi a salary of 21 million euros per year, Barcelona would have had to sell some players. If not, they risked breaking Spanish league rules and facing penalties. So, Messi’s return to the club wasn’t possible.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal is showing he could be Messi’s true successor. Messi has praised him before and did again, saying: “Lamine Yamal, already a Euro champion with Spain, is doing amazing things. He’s only 17 and still growing as a player, just like I was at that age. He keeps improving and already plays like one of the best in the world.”
Messi now plays for Inter Miami, joining the team from PSG in 2023. His old Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba also joined him. Last season, they helped Miami win the Supporters’ Shield for the first time. They also qualified for the upcoming Club World Cup. This season, Inter Miami is doing well and sits fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference with 15 points from 4 wins and 3 draws in 7 games.
