Deco Denies Rumors of Messi's Barcelona Return

Barcelona's sporting director dismisses speculation about Lionel Messi rejoining the club on loan in January.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:11am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a soccer player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic nature of the sport and the speculation around Messi's career.A cubist interpretation of Lionel Messi's potential return to Barcelona, highlighting the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the legendary player's future.Today in Miami

Rumors have swirled about Lionel Messi potentially returning to Barcelona on loan in January, but Barcelona's sporting director Deco has firmly denied the possibility. Messi, who left Barcelona in 2021 due to the club's financial troubles, is currently playing for Inter Miami in the United States. Deco emphasized that Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami and that a Barcelona return was never even considered.

Why it matters

Messi's potential return to Barcelona would have been a major storyline in the world of football, given his legendary status at the club and the emotional connection he has with the fans. However, Deco's comments suggest that such a move is highly unlikely, at least in the near future.

The details

Messi spent 17 successful years at Barcelona, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer and helping them win numerous titles, including 10 La Liga championships and four UEFA Champions League trophies. However, in 2021, he was forced to leave the club due to their financial difficulties. Messi then joined Paris Saint-Germain, but his time in France was challenging. He now plays for Inter Miami in the United States.

  • Messi left Barcelona in 2021.
  • Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 and is under contract with the club for another three years.

The players

Lionel Messi

A legendary Argentine footballer who spent 17 successful years at Barcelona before leaving the club in 2021 due to financial troubles. He is currently playing for Inter Miami in the United States.

Deco

The sporting director of Barcelona, who has firmly denied the possibility of Messi returning to the club on loan in January.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think it's possible because Leo is under contract, and it was never even considered.”

— Deco, Barcelona Sporting Director

The takeaway

While the prospect of Messi returning to Barcelona would have been an exciting one for fans, Deco's comments suggest that such a move is highly unlikely to happen in the near future. Messi is committed to his current club, Inter Miami, and Barcelona's financial situation, while improved, may still make it difficult to accommodate the legendary player's wages.