FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has shared what Lionel Messi told him before signing for Inter Miami in the summer.
The Catalan giants were a real contender to sign the Argentine superstar after Messi was released by PSG, with Barcelona the club where the forward became a soccer legend.
However, as we know, Messi opted for a move to MLS with Inter Miami, where the 36-year-old attacker has found a home and seems to be enjoying his football.
And speaking to El Desmarque, Laporta has now detailed what Messi told him this summer during discussions over the forward potentially returning to Barcelona.
Laporta said when asked how close Messi came to sign for Barcelona and why the Argentine chose Inter Miami: “In the end it didn’t happen.
“Because what he told us was totally logical: that because of the pressure he had been under in Paris he preferred to go to Inter Miami, because that would give him some stability. A decision that we respect.”
Lionel Messi was right to snub FC Barcelona for Inter Miami
Barcelona could have easily won the race for Messi this summer had the logistics made complete sense for the club and the player.
However, given all the work Inter Miami put in to bring Messi to Florida, the MLS franchise were only ever going to be the sole victor of this transfer race.
And judging by Messi’s recent comments and his overall attitude, the forward seems to be loving life in MLS in Inter Miami, with the Argentine putting the club on the map.
2024 is due to be a big one for the Herons, and Messi is seemingly excited to become a part of Inter Miami’s newest chapter heading into the new MLS season.