Barca will return to Camp Nou for the 2025-2026 season after two years at Montjuic. The newly renovated Camp Nou now boasts a capacity of 105,000 spectators, but several aspects remain unfinished. The club plans to inaugurate the stadium in the summer of 2026 and invite Messi as part of a grand celebration. However, according to Marca, Barca hasn't even contacted the Inter Miami captain about this.

Messi cried while announcing his departure from Barca during a press conference in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, on 8/8/2021. Photo: EPA

Despite this, the club has told the media that Messi agreed to attend the ceremony. However, sources close to Messi reveal that the 38-year-old superstar says even if he receives an invitation, he's not sure he'll accept. This stems from the unresolved tension between him and Barca President Joan Laporta.

Laporta promised to extend Messi's contract in the summer of 2021 but failed to do so. The Barca captain had to hold a press conference, where he tearfully bid farewell to his teammates and the media. He didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye to tens of thousands of fans at Camp Nou. Since then, Messi hasn't spoken to Laporta.

During Barca's 125th-anniversary celebration at the end of 11/2024, Laporta also wanted Messi to attend. However, the club didn't send an official invitation to the player who scored 672 goals for the club. Messi participated only through a pre-recorded video interview. This suggests he still loves Barca, but not its current management.

"If Laporta can't reconcile with Messi, it will be difficult for Barca to invite the Argentinian captain to the new Camp Nou inauguration," Marca commented. The media reports that Laporta and Messi are extremely estranged.

Messi's future on the field is also uncertain. His contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of 2025, but the two sides haven't renewed it. Co-owner David Beckham wants to recruit midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, possibly as a way to persuade Messi to stay, as De Paul is a teammate and close friend of Messi on the national team.

Hoang An (according to Marca)