FC Barcelona legend and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi could return to Camp Nou within the next two years.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami from FC Barcelona this summer, is set to return to the Catalan capital to bid farewell to his most passionate fans, owner Jorge Mas has confirmed.
It appears there was only one choice between the two clubs, but Mas told Club del Deportista that there was a lot of competition for his signature.
“Obviously as the best player in the world there was a lot of competition, a lot. Not only with the renewal desired by PSG, the possible return to Barcelona and the offers from Saudi Arabia. Frankly, they were very intense months, I had multiple meetings between Rosario, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Miami, Doha…”
“Did I see the operation in danger? Absolutely. There was a lot of pressure. Messi’s departure from Barcelona did not please him, he could not say goodbye to his club, which welcomed him like a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted.
Inter Miami had the advantage of offering an offer that had been worked on for four years.
“Your son will have the opportunity to create a new legacy because he will be able to change a sport in a country, which is rarely given to an athlete. I stayed in constant contact with Jorge (Messi). It took four and a half years to convince Lionel and get him to make a decision with his family. I never lost faith. I was convinced that Lionel Messi was going to arrive, I saw that there was a great possibility after the World Cup, and in January or February to conclude something.”
Mas has, however, pledged that Messi will return to Barcelona at some point in the next two years.
“I gave him the commitment to do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona”he added.
