Lionel Messi returns to Camp Nou. The Inter Miami striker, who recently extended his contract for three seasons at the franchise co-owned by David Beckham, dropped a bombshell on his Instagram account this Monday morning.
Holder and double-goal scorer in Florida’s win against Nashville (4-0) on Saturday night through Sunday, Pulga was heavily involved in his team’s qualification to the MLS Eastern Conference finals. Nobody expected him to be in Barcelona 24 hours later for a special visit to the new Camp Nou, the historic home of the Blaugrana, which has been undergoing extensive renovations since 2023.
“Last night (Sunday), I returned to the place I miss so much,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner wrote in the caption of his post, consisting of photos and videos showing him around the stadium and even on the pitch.
“I hope I can come back one day, and not just to say goodbye”
“A place where I am very happy, where you make me feel a thousand times the happiest person in the world. I hope to return one day, and not just say goodbye as a player, as I could never do…”, wrote the Argentinian world champion, in a return promise that promises to provoke a reaction in Barcelona circles, which are already shaken by the sudden visit that no one saw coming considering the rather cold relationship that Messi maintains with Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona Barca.
Two days ago, the latter had mentioned the possibility of a tribute match in honor of the Blaugrana icon. “This will be an extraordinary way to inaugurate a stadium that has a capacity of 105,000 spectators,” said the manager during a press conference on the sidelines of the partial reopening of the arena during Hansi Flick’s group’s public training, on Friday 7 November.
First match at Camp Nou only at the end of November?
Barcelona supporters were finally able to return to their stadiums during special training held in the form of “operational tests” at the weekend.
In total, 23,000 spectators took their place in the stands to watch Lamine Yamal and his teammates practice their range. Long delayed due to work delays, Barça’s return to Camp Nou in an official match is expected to take place at the end of November, either against Athletic Bilbao (22 November) or against Deportivo Alavés (29 November).
