Barcelona president Joan Laporta has dismissed speculation about Lionel Messi rejoining the Catalan giants, describing a return for the 38-year-old as "unrealistic."
Messi, the club’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker, made a surprise visit to Camp Nou on Sunday, hinting at a hope to return one day, not just to say farewell, but to fully close his storied chapter at Barcelona.
Speaking to Catalunya Radio on Wednesday, Laporta said: "Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals at the club, and our members, I believe it would be neither realistic nor fair to speculate on such a return. It is not appropriate."
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after financial constraints forced the club to let him go. Laporta, who was president at the time, insisted he had no regrets, saying: "Barca is above everything."
Looking ahead, the president confirmed plans for a special tribute match to honour Messi’s legendary career once the fully renovated Camp Nou reopened.
"Things didn’t end the way we would have liked… if this tribute can make up for what wasn’t done, it would be a good thing.
"It would be right for him to have the best tribute match in the world, and it would be wonderful to have it here, in front of 105,000 fans," Laporta said.
Laporta also described Messi’s Sunday visit as "spontaneous," a reflection of the forward’s enduring affection for the club.
The Argentina international, now playing for Inter Miami, is currently in Spain with the national team ahead of a friendly against Angola.
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