Lionel Messi reveals he wanted to return to Barcelona before signing with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has revealed that he hoped to return to Barcelona following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, but said a move back to the club was not possible. The Inter Miami star admitted he had no interest in continuing his career in Europe.

“I had the intention of returning to Barcelona and being able to go back to a place I always wanted to be, but it was not possible again,” he told Quique Wolf in an interview with ESPN’s Simplemente Fútbol.

“After that, it became a family decision. The fact that we won the World Cup [in 2022] also had a big impact. I was clear that I didn’t want to be at another team in Europe. I didn’t want to go to any of them,” he added.

As he has said before, Messi explained that he wanted to come to the United States to experience the country and to join a “growing” league. “[To play with] a new club that was full of ambition and wanted to grow and do important things. That really drew me in,” he said.

Lionel Messi left Barcelona in 2021 (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

While Messi didn’t go into detail about why a return to Barcelona wasn’t possible, the club has been dealing with financial problems, particularly in meeting LaLiga’s financial fair play regulations.

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Messi said he didn’t feel comfortable in Paris

The Argentine also made it clear that his family’s well-being was a key factor, as they were “coming off two complicated years” in Paris. While he described the French capital as “an incredible city,” Messi said he was the one who struggled the most with the adjustment.

“The kids were fine, they made friends, everything was okay. Antonela is always great, no matter where we are. She’s always supportive and willing to do whatever is needed for the family,” he said. “But the truth is, I didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel comfortable day to day, in training, and everything else.”

Messi struggled during his time with PSG (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

With PSG, Messi won two Ligue 1 titles (2021–22, 2022–23) and one Trophée des Champions (2022). However, despite playing alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the team fell short in the Champions League, exiting in the Round of 16 in both of his seasons.

Barcelona and Messi have found success on separate paths

Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has added more trophies to his already decorated career. In his debut season, he led the team to its first-ever title by winning the 2023 Leagues Cup. He carried that momentum into the 2024 season, helping the club secure the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking 74 points. Individually, Messi has scored 42 goals to become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Meanwhile, Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, are poised for a successful campaign. The team recently reached their first Champions League semifinal in six years and remain in contention for a treble. They are currently leading LaLiga by four points over Real Madrid, have already clinched the Supercopa, and will face Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey final.