Lionel Messi may return to Camp Nou emotionally for the first time after his tearful exit in 2021.
The captain of Inter Miami, who played for Barcelona for more than two decades, could soon walk the pitch of the refurbished stadium again.
Although there has been no official word, the likelihood of his return has already begun to generate buzz among fans across the globe.
For some, it would be an opportunity to witness the great Argentine in the stadium where he made his unforgettable history.
Inter Miami CF and FC Barcelona are said to be in early talks to host a friendly game at the revamped Camp Nou after rebuilding the stadium, as per the reports from FrancoPanizo.
The game would be a special one because it would see Lionel Messi return to his old haunt for the first time since his 2021 departure from Barcelona.
The game would not be only an emotional homecoming but also a huge commercial attraction, with Messi’s international fame and other ex-Barcelona legends such as Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba being on Miami’s side.
Barcelona’s Camp Nou is also being renovated on a grand scale as part of the Espai Barça project, with a capacity of more than 105,000 when finished.
A high-profile friendly against Inter Miami would be the ideal opening game to launch the renovated stadium, as the club traditionally hosts Joan Gamper Trophy games.
Although the work is due to be finished in late 2026, the game would probably be hosted as early as 2027, although Barcelona will probably host games in the partially finished stadium before then.
For his supporters, even the possibility of Messi returning to Camp Nou wearing the away kit would be a heartwarming and sentimental one.
The match will also serve to showcase the growing prowess of MLS as Inter Miami, with a boost of motivation from the possibility of playing a friendly game with Messi, keeps attracting the international spotlight.
Despite officially saying nothing, the supposed friendly match has already started stirring excitement among fans waiting with bated breath to see Messi’s match in the stadium where history was created.
Additionally:
Sources have told me that a friendly between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona has been discussed for 2026 once renovations at the Camp Nou are complete — serving as Messi’s official farewell from the Spanish club he played for.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵 https://t.co/8HIHvwPqkU
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) April 11, 2025
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