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Barcelona invite Lionel Messi for long-awaited return
The 37-year-old could soon be back in Barcelona, returning three years after his tearful departure from Camp Nou.
For many Barcelona fans, the nature of Lionel Messi's abrupt departure in the summer of 2021 is still painful.
With Barca unable to renew his contract due to financial constraints, Messi said a tearful farewell after 20 years at the club at a socially distanced press conference in front of a modest audience.
He hasn't returned for the past three years, but it appears he's about to get the dismissal he was previously denied. Radio Catalunya reports that Barca have formally invited Messi to be part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations later this year.
The 37-year-old is expected to play an “active role” in the proceedings and his presence has been an “important” part of the planning for the star-studded event. The ceremony will reportedly take place at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
What next for Lionel Messi?
The club's all-time record goalscorer returns to face a Barcelona team performing at the top level and flying high at the top of LaLiga. He has been away for more than three years, but now has some time off after his current team's season was abruptly ended.
Messi's Inter Miami were knocked out of the play-offs in the first round earlier this month, meaning he will be out of competitive action until the end of February. He played for Miami in 2024, but his advancing age and deteriorating fitness mean his future beyond 2025 is unclear.
His current contract with Inter Miami only runs until 2025, although there is an option to extend until 2026. The next World Cup will be held in the summer of 2026 and Messi should play regularly to ensure he is in good shape for Argentina. assuming he wants to participate in another major international tournament.
For now, Messi's future is unclear, but he has said he wants to build on this year's success with Miami.
“A season ended in which we continued to grow as a club and although we achieved some goals, we wanted more,” Messi wrote on Instagram after the shock loss to Atlanta. “Thank you to all the people who joined us and supported us. Let us now prepare to come back stronger next year.”