Madrid: Barcelona president Joan Laporta has dismissed speculation that star forward Lionel Messi could return to the club, emphasising that it is “not the time to speculate with unrealistic scenarios.”

“Out of respect for Messi, our players and for our staff members, it’s not the time to speculate with scenarios,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

The comments come after Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona legend, said on Monday that he had visited the renovated Camp Nou and hoped to one day return to properly say his “goodbye.”

“I was glad to see Messi back at the Camp Nou, but no, we didn’t know he was coming. We love him. This is his home, and he knows it. I still think he deserves the best in history with Barcelona fans reunited,” Laporta added. ️

Reflecting on Messi’s departure in 2021, the president said, “Despite what happened with his departure… I have no regrets as Barça is above anyone else. It’s what we all wanted — but it was not possible to keep Messi in that moment for our financial situation.”

Messi, 38, left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain due to the club’s financial crisis and later moved to Inter Miami in 2023.

“Last night I returned to a place I deeply miss. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” Messi wrote on Instagram.

“I hope one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I was never able to do...,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion added.