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Barcelona's sporting director Deco has firmly stated that Lionel Messi has never expressed a desire to return to the club since his emotional exit in 2021.
Speculation about a failed return in 2023 dominated the recent Barcelona presidential election campaign, after former coach Xavi, backing candidate Victor Font, alleged that eventual winner Joan Laporta had personally undermined efforts to bring Messi back to Camp Nou three years prior.
Those aligned with Laporta worked hard to dismiss the allegations, with sporting director Deco now claiming that the narrative surrounding Messi's supposed near-return in 2023 was largely invented.
"This is a complicated matter," he told Globo Esporte. "It was talked about extensively during the elections. His name kept coming up."
"Messi is the greatest player in Barcelona's history — for me, the greatest player in football history, or at least among the very best. We'd love for football to last forever in every sense, there are many things we wish for, but they come to an end. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. Speculating about it, I think, is largely futile."
"Of course, when we can pay homage to Messi, that's not a decision I'd make alone. As a player, he's in great form. He moved to Inter [Miami], made that choice, things unfolded, and he must be content there."
"This idea of a return, honestly, at least during my time here, has never come up. There's been no call from Messi or anyone in his camp saying, 'I want to come back, I want to play.' That simply hasn't happened."
"Most of this has been rumor — a lot of things that simply aren't true. He hasn't expressed that wish directly; he made an Instagram post saying he'd like to return someday, but gave no specifics. Talking about this sort of thing with a player of Leo's stature is rather pointless if it isn't real or concrete."
Will Messi Ever Return to Barcelona?
Messi has made clear that he will, at some point and in some capacity, come back to Barcelona. For fans, however, the specifics beyond that remain rather vague.
With Laporta confirmed to be staying in office, the first hurdle is repairing the relationship between the two, which was damaged during Messi's departure five years ago. Some have suggested the Argentine will never return while Laporta remains in charge, though those claims have yet to be confirmed.
Assuming there are no deeper tensions between the two, any return for Messi would only be realistic once his stint with Inter Miami concludes. His current deal runs through the end of 2028.
A comeback as a player is conceivable but grows less likely with every passing day. He will be 41 when his Miami contract expires and appears far more likely to bring his storied playing career to a close at that point.
That doesn't extinguish Barcelona's hopes of a reunion, though. While Messi has ruled out going into management, he has repeatedly expressed interest in a behind-the-scenes role after retiring, hinting at a directorial position or one that would allow him to work closely with young talent.
Should Messi be open to returning, Barcelona would almost certainly offer him whatever role he desires — perhaps even crafting an entirely new position to avoid disrupting the existing structure. For fans, however, it likely won't be a particularly high-profile role.