The complete picture of Lionel Messi’s failed return to Barcelona in the summer of 2023 has been revealed.
According to Idman.Biz, citing journalist David Bernabeu, the deal was almost finalized: La Liga had preliminarily approved the operation, Xavi had endorsed the sporting project, and the club had already prepared a contract for the Argentine star.
Messi informed Xavi that he wanted to return to Camp Nou and was ready to take on a new role in the squad.
However, within a few days, everything changed dramatically. Sport TV notes that after a meeting between Jorge Messi and Barcelona’s management, it became clear that La Liga could not give final approval for the contract registration — the club’s financial situation did not allow the operation to be completed.
As a result, Barcelona was forced to halt the process, and the uncertainty surrounding his future pushed Messi to join Inter Miami.
