Lionel Messi has been promised a Barcelona farewell at the end of his career as Inter Miami’s co-owner says he will do ‘everything possible’ to make it happen
- Jorge Mas says they will go Barca for a tribute game when Messi finishes playing
- Kevin-Prince Boateng says he was forced to lie and say Messi is best in the world
Lionel Messi has been promised the Barcelona farewell he never received by Inter Miami’s co-owner when he reaches the end of his playing career.
Jorge Mas, who runs the MLS club alongside David Beckham and Jose Mas, said he has given the Argentinian legend his ‘commitment’ that he will do ‘everything possible’ to make it work.
‘Messi’s departure from Barcelona was not to his liking. He could not say goodbye to his club, which welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted,’ he told Marca.
‘I gave [Messi] my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona.
‘Inter Miami will go [to Barcelona] or we will have some kind of match.’
Lionel Messi has scored 11 goals in 12 matches so far for Inter Miami this season
Jorge Mas (pictured) has said he will do ‘everything possible’ so that Messi can play his last farewell game in Barcelona
Barcelona’s club president Joan Laporta previously stated that it would be fitting for Messi’s tribute to coincide with the opening of the new revamped Spotify Camp Nou stadium in the 2025-26 campaign.
The Argentinian spent 20 years playing in Catalonia after joining the club at the age of 13.
His time there reached a tumultuous and emotional end in 2021, however, after the club were unable to register him due to the salary cap rule.
The 36-year-old considered a return to his boyhood club before he joined Inter Miami this year after his contract with PSG expired in June.
The World Cup winner has so far scored 11 goals in 12 matches this season for the MLS side, who have not lost a game with him while he has been on the pitch.
He also guided them to their first every trophy in August.
After missing Inter’s past three games with a leg injury, however, he is still a doubt for Wednesday’s match against Chicago Fire.
Discussing Messi’s impact on the MLS, Mas added: ‘I think everything has changed with him. The MLS is another. Every time we play away from home, the stadiums are full.
Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta previously hinted that it would be ideal for Messi’s final match to be played at the new revamped Nou Camp for the 2025-26 season
‘The reception for Lionel has been extraordinary. The game in New York, with almost 30,000 fans and 80% shouting Messi’s name… It shocked me, I wasn’t expecting that. There will be a before and after Messi’s arrival to the MLS.’
According to former Real Madrid forward Pedja Mijatovic, Messi has reportedly pushed for the club to sign former Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric.
The Croatian has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti starting him on the bench for four out of six LaLiga fixtures this season.
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