Lionel Messi is reportedly planning a sensational return to . The Argentine football legend left his boyhood club under emotional circumstances in the summer of 2021 but has repeatedly expressed his desperation to go back.

Barcelona's financial crisis meant they were unable to sign their greatest-ever player to a new contract three-and-a-half years ago. , having said his , reluctantly on a free transfer.

Despite claiming three trophies with PSG and lifting the World Cup during that time, Messi, by his own admission, endured a tough two-year stint in France. Following that miserable chapter, he crossed the Atlantic in the summer of 2023 to sign for in Major League Soccer, where his impact has already seen them win the Leagues Cup and the Supporters' Shield while he himself scooped up the MVP award.

Yet the sudden manner of Messi's departure from Barcelona - and the lack of a fitting send-off - has always left a bitter taste in their fans' mouths. Now, after constant reports linking Messi with a return in recent years, the footballing icon has sparked those rumours into life, having allegedly said: "I can't leave football without playing at the new Camp Nou (Barcelona's reconstructed stadium)."

That is according to Alex Candal, the journalist who stunned the footballing world by announcing Messi's move to America, via DS Sports. Candal expanded on his claim, stating: "Who was the first one to say that Leo Messi was joining Inter Miami? Me... or not? And now I'm telling you: He's coming back to Barcelona."

Messi's current deal with Inter Miami is set to expire in December 2025, with no suggestions of a renewal, though his contract contains a clause for a one-year extension. Despite the prospect of Messi becoming available on a free, doubts linger over Barcelona's capacity to bring back their most famous La Masia graduate.

The diminutive magician confirmed in an interview after winning his record eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023 that he wanted to return in the summer of that year, saying: "I could have returned to Barca, but it didn't happen. My first thought was always to return home, to be able to play at Barca again and retire there as I had always dreamed. But it wasn't possible."

The Blaugrana icon also stated in an interview with 3Cat last year: "My kids were born here. I've spent my whole life living there. I feel I belong to Barcelona.

"My family and I always think about the possibility of returning to live there one day. My children, my wife and I miss our life there a lot. We miss our friends."

The exact nature of a potential Messi reunion with Barcelona, as per Candal's report, remains unclear. At 37 years old, Messi might still find a path back to Camp Nou, even if not through a formal transfer - possibly through an exhibition or friendly match that could afford him a last dance on the Camp Nou turf before his adoring fans.

The stadium is currently undergoing major reconstruction, with Barcelona playing at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys since the 2023/24 season. The final completion of all renovations, which will see the capacity increase to 105,000, is scheduled for June 2026.