Barcelona have said Lionel Messi turned down their proposal because he wants to “compete in a league with fewer demands” after the forward confirmed he would join MLS side Inter Miami.
Messi, whose contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30, revealed on Wednesday he would not return to Barca because he could not wait any longer to see if they would be able to register his contract with LaLiga.
In a statement which drew criticism on social media, Barca responded by saying they “understood” Messi’s decision to take himself out of the spotlight.
“On Monday, Jorge Messi, the player’s father and representative, informed club president Joan Laporta of the player’s decision to join Inter Miami,” Barca said.
“This is despite having been presented with a proposal from Barca in consideration of the desire of both Barcelona and Messi for him to once again wear the club’s colours.
“President Laporta understood and respected Messi’s decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years.”
Lionel Messi will join Inter Miami once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30. FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images
Barca are in excess of their LaLiga-imposed spending limit and can only invest 40% of any money they save or generate.
Even if Messi was willing to play for free, league sources said he would have accounted for €25 million within Barca’s cap, based on previous earnings. Therefore, registering him is impossible. The scenario is remarkably similar to when Messi left the club in August 2021.
After revealing his intention to sign for Miami, Messi said he did not want to put himself in that situation again and wanted to keep his future “in my own hands.”
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez, who led the charm offensive to convince Messi to return to the club where he spent 20 years previously, said he respected the Argentina forward’s decision.
“We speak a lot and I noticed a change in recent days,” Xavi told Jijantes on Thursday. “[I felt] that maybe he didn’t see [coming back] so clearly. We have to respect his decision.
“A lot of the time, we don’t put ourselves in the shoes of others and we lack empathy. Being Leo, being Messi cannot be easy. You speak about the spotlight, imagine what it’s been like for him. He has never had any quiet.
“When he’s playing, he has to be the best, 10 out of 10 in everything, attacking, defending, he can’t miss a penalty. He’s not had a good two years [in Paris], he has explained that.
“The hope [he would come back] was generated because we speak a lot. We were all excited: him, me, the club… but the circumstances didn’t fall into place.”
Messi, who turns 36 later this month, said the “final details” still need to be sorted before his move to Miami is officially complete, with his debut expected to take place in July once his PSG deal ends.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could be joined at his new club by Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets, with sources confirming to ESPN the former Spain midfielder is in talks with Inter Miami, as well as two clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Messi has said that there is no going back on heading to the United States.
He said: “I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami,” Messi told newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.
“(I decided) to leave Europe.”
He added: “It’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to FC Barcelona.
“After winning the FIFA World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.
“Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”
