Inter Miami Co-Owner commits to make Lionel Messi’s return to FC Barcelona

Jorge Mas vows to ensure Messi farewell to Barcelona fans, offers potential tribute match

Jorge Mas, co-owner of MLS franchise Inter Miami, has pledged to do everything possible to make possible Lionel Messi’s return to FC Barcelona in any way possible in an interview with Spanish sports newspaper MARCA. Messi, an icon in the football world, left Barcelona in 2021, and his departure prohibited him from properly saying farewell to the club and its passionate fans.

Mas shed light on the summer when Messi refused a return to Barcelona as well as a heavy offer from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. The Saudi club reportedly offered Messi more than €1 billion to move his career in the Middle East.

“I always aspired to sign Leo. Everyone told me I was crazy to think he would come to Inter Miami,” Mas revealed.

“What better than the best player in the world coming to Miami, where he could enjoy [life] with his wife, with his children.

“I kept in touch with Jorge constantly. It was four and a half years of convincing Lionel to decide with his family. I never lost faith. I was convinced that Lionel Messi was going to arrive. I saw that there was a great possibility after the World Cup, and in January or February [the possibility to] close something.”

The Inter Miami co-owner showed sympathy for Messi’s wish to bid a decent farewell to Barcelona, but emphasized that the terms of Messi’s exit in 2021 were not to his liking, as he couldn’t say goodbye to the club that had received him as a child.

In a heartwarming gesture, Mas stated that he had given Messi his word that Inter Miami will make every attempt in the following years to enable the football legend to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona. Mas even proposed holding a tribute match or event during the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, which is often a friendly match organized at the Camp Nou stadium to kick off the season in August.

Barcelona fans eagerly await any move that could bring their beloved Messi back to the club, giving him the farewell he wants and allowing the fans to enjoy their star for the last time.

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