Can Messi play for Barça? What you need to know about the possible transfer
Thinking about Lionel Messi being present at FC Barcelona is something that excites many, but seems far-fetched.
The world of football is wondering: what will Lionel Messi do in the four months that he will be at Inter Miami after not qualifying for the Eastern Conference playoffs? Only the player and his environment have the answer, but the truth is that everything seems to indicate (or at least that is the reading that is made after the first post-elimination movements) that the Argentine world champion will stay in the United States and will opt for rest.
It is worth remembering some issues: Lionel Messi has a contract until 2025 with Inter Miami in the MLS and Inter Miami will not play in the MLS playoffs, so he will be there from October 21, 2023 until the last week of February 2024 without playing. It's exactly four whole months. Although president Jorge Mas promised him a farewell at Barcelona as a “tribute,” he was referring to a friendly match between Inter Miami and Barça.
Is a return possible in economic terms? Barça insists that it could not register the player due to Fair Play problems. Furthermore, the club's priority is to register Gavi and strengthen itself with the arrival of Vitor Roque. Likewise, although Lionel Messi could choose to charge a minimum salary, La Liga can count it as a very high salary. Sport also indicates that the player is not considering a return to Barcelona.
Inter Miami is going to respect what Lionel Messi decided, this newspaper adds. Lionel Messi signed a contract indicating that he can go on a four-month loan if they do not qualify for the playoffs (this applies to all MLS players due to the big break in that league). There are several cases like that: David Beckham, without going very far, left the Los Angeles Galaxy for Milan during a break.
Arabia also plays its part: it wants Lionel Messi for six months on loan
After having offered him million-dollar contracts that not even Cristiano Ronaldo has, they are now thinking of offering him a short six-month contract to give themselves the luxury of having the two best players of the last 25 years in the Saudi league. Will you accept Leo?
