Lionel Messi had an unceremonious see you later from FC Barcelona in 2021. Inter Miami is having a look to rectify that.

Inter Miami managing proprietor Jorge Mas is making an attempt to arrange a tribute fit in opposition to Barcelona in order that each Messi and lovers may have a correct see you, he informed Marca.

“I gave [Messi] my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona,” Mas stated to the Spanish newspaper. 

“Inter Miami will go [to Barcelona] or we will have some kind of match. Messi’s departure from Barcelona was not to his liking, he could not say goodbye to his club, which welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted.”

Messi, who first joined Barcelona as a adolescence participant in 2003, spent 18 years overall with the Spanish powerhouse, scoring a club-record 672 objectives all through his generation with the senior workforce. He’s additionally performed probably the most video games in Barcelona’s historical past, serving to the membership win 34 titles all through his generation there. He additionally received seven Ballon d’Or trophies over his generation with Barcelona.

The Argentinian celebrity’s generation with Barcelona got here to an result in August 2021 when the 2 aspects have been not able to conform to a fresh do business in, paving the way in which for him to signal with Paris Saint-Germain. Then Messi’s courting with the French membership deteriorated, there have been discussions of him turning back Barcelona earlier than he affirmative to a checklist word of honour with Inter Miami in June.

In spite of Messi opting to signal in other places over the summer time, Barcelona has additionally expressed an passion in website hosting Inter Miami for a see you fit. In a while upcoming Messi’s choice to attach Inter Miami, Barcelona president Joan Laporta stated that the re-opening of Spotify Camp Nou following renovations can be an “excellent” past for Messi’s go back fit. Renovations are anticipated to be entire by means of the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

Within the interim, Messi has taken over the MLS and football in the US. He’s scored 11 objectives within the 12 fits he’s performed with Inter Miami, which has but to lose in fits he’s performed in and received the Leagues Cup in August.

Mas has spotted the affect Messi has made on now not simply his membership, but in addition all of the league.

“I think everything has changed with him,” Mas informed Marca. “The MLS is some other. Each and every generation we play games clear of house, the stadiums are complete.

“The reception for Lionel has been bizarre. The sport in Fresh York, with virtually 30,000 lovers and 80% shouting Messi’s title … there have been Albiceleste and crimson Inter Miami T-shirts. … It stunned me, I wasn’t anticipating that. There will probably be a earlier than and upcoming Messi’s arrival to the MLS.”

The madness surrounding Messi has been on a brief pause recently though. The World Cup winner has been sidelined for Inter Miami’s last three games due to a leg injury, missing crucial time as the club tries to make a push for the MLS playoffs.

Messi returned to practice on Tuesday. Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino declined to provide any timetable regarding Messi when he spoke with reporters before the practice session.

The team plays at Chicago on Wednesday. Messi has been listed as day-to-day for much of the past month and barely has played in that span.

The 36-year-old Messi has missed four of Inter Miami’s last five matches, plus another for Argentina in that span because of what was first called fatigue — by both his club and country — and has evolved from there. The only game he didn’t miss during that stretch was a 37-minute appearance against Toronto on Sept. 20, and he had to leave that match before halftime because of a hamstring issue.

Messi made an appearance Monday night at the team’s stadium to promote the launch of a children’s menu bearing his name at some Hard Rock properties around the world. He was not made available for comment to most media outlets that were in attendance at the event, and no update on his injury was provided.

Inter Miami enters the week 13th in the Eastern Conference, four spots and four points out of the last playoff spot from that side of MLS. A loss on Wednesday would not eliminate Inter Miami from the playoff mix, but it would put a significant dent in the team’s postseason hopes.

After that match at Chicago, Inter Miami has three MLS games remaining — Saturday at home against Cincinnati, a rescheduled match at home against Charlotte on Oct. 18 and the finale at Charlotte on Oct. 21.

Inter Miami is 1-2-2 in its 5 fits with out Messi since he joined the membership.

The Related Press contributed to this record.

 

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