Normally, Leo Messi prefers to remain silent and doesn't make big headlines, but he has done so surprisingly on a YouTube channel. The Argentine has spoken to "Simply Soccer," where, among other things, he revealed that he intended to return to his beloved Barça after the Qatar World Cup. His contract in Paris ended, and he negotiated his return to the Catalan club, but it wasn't possible, and the possibility ultimately fell through definitively.
LEO MESSI EN SIMPLEMENTE FÚTBOL 😱🔥⚽️
"After the World Cup, I couldn't see myself in another European team that wasn't Barça. My goal was to return. Return to my home, where it all started, but unfortunately, it couldn't be possible," stated Leo Messi. In this regard, he added: "The decision to come here was purely a family decision. We came to the United States, to Miami, to live this new experience."
The Reason Behind Leo Messi's Non-Return to Barça
Despite negotiations and even Laporta and Leo Messi trying to smooth things over, his return to Barça was impossible. This hope from both sides never materialized, and according to various sources, Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, played a key role in preventing it.
Even though Messi was willing to significantly reduce his salary to facilitate his return, LaLiga maintained its firm stance regarding economic control. Tebas stated that Barça had to comply with financial regulations without exceptions, even for a figure as significant as Leo Messi. The club, which wasn't in the 1:1 rule, had to adhere to the 40% rule, which further complicated the operation.
The president of LaLiga expressed on several occasions his personal desire to see Messi back at Camp Nou. However, he made it clear that no special concessions would be made: "Here, it doesn't matter if they bring the documentation for Leo Messi or Kylian Mbappé. What is clear is that there is economic control, and to incorporate players, it must be complied with."
Finally, due to the impossibility of meeting the established requirements, Leo Messi chose to continue his career at Inter Miami in the MLS. A decision that left many Barça fans with a sense of a missed opportunity, and that highlighted the strict financial policies imposed by LaLiga under the direction of a Javier Tebas who didn't believe in such a low salary for the '10'.