"I could have returned to Barca; I thought about retiring there, but it wasn't possible"

Leo Messi will never forget his time at FC Barcelona. In an interview with 'L'Equipe', he admitted that he could have returned after his departure.
"I could have returned to Barcelona, but it didn't happen...", lamented the Argentine. "For me, it was similar to when I had to leave in 2021," he continued.
The 8th-time Ballon d'Or winner admitted that he had dreamed of returning on several occasions. In fact, his plan was always to finish his career at Camp Nou: "I thought about returning to Barca, about my life there, about retiring as I always wanted to... but it wasn't possible", he explained.
Asked if there is any possibility right now of returning to Barcelona or going on loan to any other club, Messi is blunt. "No, there are no options, not at all," he said with a laugh.
Messi's love for Barca, and Barca's love for Messi, will be forever even though the striker has moved on with his life at Inter Miami, far from Barcelona. The 'Cules' have pending a tribute to him once the Camp Nou works are finished, although the footballer denied having spoken to Joan Laporta about it after the Ballon d'Or gala.
However, he assured that he is very aware of the team's current sporting situation: "I follow them as I did when I was in Paris. I think the team has evolved since Xavi arrived with experienced players like Lewandowski and Kounde and other young players. They have a beautiful team and the chance to do great things this year.