Barcelona President hopes Lionel Messi ends career "in a Barca shirt"
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Barcelona President Juan Laporta says he believes that Messi's time away from the club is temporary.
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Barcelona President Joan Laporta
Barcelona President Joan Laporta said that he hopes Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi will end his career "in a Barca shirt."
Messi left the Camp Nou for Paris Saint-Germain last summer, after 17 years in the Barcelona first team, as the Catalan giants struggled with financial problems.
But Laporta is hopeful that the 35-year-old will be able to return to Barca before he ends his career as a player.
"Messi's time at Barca didn't end as we all would've liked," Laporta told the Spanish press during the club's pre-season tour of the United States.
The Barcelona President said that "I believe that Barca have a moral debt towards Leo Messi. We would like the end of his career to come in a Barca shirt, being applauded at all the grounds, wherever he goes."
Laporta clarified that "nothing has been discussed" with Messi, who has one season left on his PSG contract with an option for an extra year.
"It was a temporary end (to his Barca career) because I believe that we will make this wish a reality," he added.
It is noteworthy that Messi scored only 11 goals in all competitions in his debut PSG campaign, the first time he had scored fewer than 30 in a season since 2007-08.
Messi to join Inter Miami in US, acquire 35% of shares: Reports
In mid-May, Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Messi will reportedly acquire 35% of Inter Miami shares and join the US club after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ends in 2023.
In February, Inter Miami co-owner and executive director, Jorge Mas, told the Miami Herald that "Leo Messi is still one of the best players in the world, his skills have not diminished."
"At the time he leaves PSG we would love to have Messi as a player at Inter Miami and be part of our community," Mas expressed.
"Can it happen? We will push. I'm an optimist at heart - can I see it happening? It's a possibility," he added.
It is noteworthy that the eight-time Ballon D'or winner has previously confirmed in an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta that he would be willing to move to the US in the future.
"I always had the dream of being able to enjoy and have the experience of living in the United States, experience what the league there is like, but not yet," Messi indicated in 2020.
