The long-awaited Barcelona return never happened for Lionel Messi because he chose to prioritise his family commitments. Messi confessed during his Simplemente Futbol interview that he craved a return to Camp Nou after leaving PSG yet the move’s cancellation compelled him to prioritise other considerations. After winning the World Cup Messi made the decision to join Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer franchise rather than join another European football club because he cared about both his professional success and his family’s happiness.

Messi Reveals The Reason For Not Joining Barcelona

Messi said: “I had the intention of returning to Barcelona and being able to go back to a place I always wanted to be, but it was not possible again.

“After that, it became a family decision. The fact that we won the World Cup also had a big impact. I was clear that I didn’t want to be at another team in Europe, I didn’t want to go to any of them.”

Messi Further Explains His Decision Of Not Joining Barcelona

In an interview Lionel Messi explained the reasons behind his decision to avoid a return to Barcelona despite wanting to play for the club again. The financial challenges of 2023 required Barcelona to sell multiple players before they could afford Messi’s £21 million yearly salary so the move proved impossible. Due to his loyalty towards Barcelona Messi decided to join Inter Miami in MLS rather than play for another European club. Messi and Inter Miami return to action on April 19 against Columbus Crew in their next league fixture.