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Inter Miami boss plays down talk of Lionel Messi Barcelona return

Inter Miami boss plays down talk of Lionel Messi Barcelona return
© Reuters
Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino laughs off speculation that Lionel Messi could be loaned back to Barcelona in the January transfer window.

Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino has laughed off reports linking Lionel Messi with an audacious return to Barcelona over the winter.

Ever since bidding an emotional farewell to the Catalan giants in 2021, Messi has been tipped to return to Camp Nou for one last swansong - a scenario that was hitherto seen as impossible amid their financial concerns.

Once it became clear that Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain was over this summer, speculation over a Barcelona homecoming for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner unsurprisingly intensified once again.

However, the Argentina World Cup winner elected to make the switch to MLS instead, also snubbing interest from Saudi Arabia to pen a contract with Inter Miami until December 2025.

Barca president Joan Laporta claimed that his side did everything in their power to re-sign Messi, who has made a fast start to life in North America with 11 goals and five assists from 13 games.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets during training on July 18, 2023© Reuters

The 36-year-old scored in every game for the Herons during their run to the Leagues Cup title, but their bid to reach the MLS playoffs fell apart during his absence through injury.

Messi returned as a second-half substitute in Sunday's clash with Cincinnati, but he could not prevent Martino's side from slumping to a 1-0 defeat, which ended their hopes of a place in the postseason.

With Messi now set for a lengthy period with no club football, recent reports have suggested that Barcelona could make a move to re-sign their all-time record goalscorer on loan in January.

The La Liga champions even appeared to tease his return with a series of cryptic social media images, but Inter Miami head coach Martino has played down such talk.

Asked about the Messi rumours by the press at the weekend, Martino responded: "Is he going for fun? Maybe he's going to visit Barcelona. Other than that, I don't know anything else about it."

Lionel Messi celebrating scoring a goal for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul on July 22, 2023.© Reuters

Prior to his tearful exit in the summer of 2021, Messi registered an astonishing 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona across all competitions, as well as 303 assists in a glittering 16-year spell.

Alongside his fast start to life in MLS, the attacker continues to shine at international level and has scored in each of his last eight appearances for Argentina since the end of the World Cup group stage.

Messi has not ruled out playing in the 2026 World Cup in North America, although he has stressed that he wants to focus on the upcoming Copa America next year before deciding on his international future.

The 36-year-old has been called up to Lionel Scaloni's squad for this month's internationals, where La Albiceleste will meet Paraguay and Peru in their next two World Cup 2026 qualifiers on October 13 and 18 respectively.

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Lionel Messi celebrating scoring a goal for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul on July 22, 2023.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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