Lionel Messiâ€s unannounced return to the Spotify Camp Nou last week, his first visit since departing Barcelona in 2021, set off a wave of nostalgia across Catalonia. The eight-time Ballon dâ€Or winner reportedly arrived without fanfare, his appearance catching even club officials off guard.
“I Have No Regretsâ€: Joan Laporta on Lionel Messi Departure from Barcelona
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, speaking in an interview soon after, confirmed that Messiâ€s visit had not been pre-arranged. “We didnâ€t know he was coming,†Laporta said. “But we were glad to see him back. We love him. This is his home, and he knows it. I think he deserves the best farewell in history.â€
Laporta, who presided over Messiâ€s departure amid the clubâ€s financial turmoil in 2021, defended the decision as unavoidable. “Despite how it happened, I have no regrets. Barça is above anyone else. It was not what we wanted, but it was necessary.â€
Asked about a possible short-term return, Laporta was categorical: “Out of respect for Messi, our players, and our members, itâ€s not the time to speculate with unrealistic scenarios.â€
The president did, however, confirm that the club is preparing a grand tribute once the renovation of Camp Nou is complete. “Itâ€s only fair that Lionel receives the greatest tribute in the world,†Laporta said. “When the new stadium opens, we want him to feel the appreciation he deserves.â€
For a player whose story once defined an era, the visit was fleeting — but, in Barcelonaâ€s long memory, it lingered.
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