Barça speak out after Messi signs for Miami

Lionel Messi has decided not to return to Barça and to continue his career at MLS side Inter Miami. The Argentine confirmed his decision and explained it at length to Mundo Deportivo and Sport on Wednesday evening. We' ve translated the best parts of the interview here.

In the interview, Messi confirms that he wants to return to Barça, but that he does not want to relive the same scenario as in 2021, when he waited all summer only to be pushed towards the exit.

Comunicado del FC Barcelona sobre la decisión de Leo Messi de jugar en el Inter de Miami

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) June 7, 2023

In its press release, Barça gave its version of events. Here is the full statement from the Catalan club.

"On Monday June 5, Jorge Messi, the player's father and representative, informed club president Joan Laporta of the player's decision to sign for Inter Miami despite Barça's offer, given the desire expressed by FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi to return to the blaugrana colors.

President Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to play in a less demanding league, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been under in recent years.

Joan Laporta and Jorge Messi have also agreed to work together to promote a great Barça tribute to a player who was, is and always will be loved by Barça."

A communiqué in which Barça insists that it has made a proposal to Messi, while Messi himself confided to the Catalan dailies that this proposal had "never been a formal, written and signed proposal". In other words, it was more of a promise than a real offer.

On Monday, Jorge Messi told Laporta that his son wanted to return to Barça and that it was a real option. For its part, Barça insists that Messi's decision to join Miami was made as early as Monday. The communication war between the Argentinian and his former club is therefore in full swing, with both sides seemingly intent on blaming the other for the missed reunion.