“The transfer failed at the last moment due to financial constraints of the Catalan club.”, — write: football.ua
The transfer failed at the last moment due to financial constraints of the Catalan club.
Lionel Messi Getty Images November 25, 2025, 8:20 p.m
According to the Spanish publication Sport, the Argentine legend has reached a full agreement to reunite with his native club after the end of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, and even an official draft of a two-year contract has been prepared.
The desire to return came from Messi himself. In January 2023, he contacted the then head coach of the Blaugranas, Javi Hernandez. He informed club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Matteo Alemany hinted that La Liga had given preliminary approval for the transfer to be registered, prompting much optimism.
However, the situation changed dramatically in April. Messi’s father, Jorge, contacted Xavi with the disappointing news:
“I’ve been told it won’t happen, La Liga doesn’t give final approval.”
Barcelona was soon forced to change its position, realizing that due to the strict financial restrictions and rules of registration of players of La Liga, the return of the legend was impossible.
Messi, tired of waiting for the club to solve its financial problems, eventually agreed to a move to Inter Miami in the United States.
For now, Messi’s return to Catalonia is unrealistic as he recently signed a new three-year contract with the MLS club that will run until the 2028 season.
President Laporte also confirmed that the club is building a project for the present and the future, and living in the past is unlikely to allow moving forward.