Jorge Mas, the managing owner of Inter Miami, has unveiled his intention to organize a special match in Barcelona, allowing Lionel Messi to bid farewell to his devoted fans.
Since Messi’s departure from the La Liga champions to join Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, there have been ongoing discussions about a tribute match in his honor.
In an interview with Marca, Mas expressed his commitment to ensuring that Messi gets the chance to say goodbye to his Barcelona fans. He stated, “I gave [Messi] my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona. Inter Miami will go to Barcelona, or we will arrange some form of match. Messi’s departure from Barcelona was not ideal for him; he couldn’t bid farewell to the club that embraced him as a young boy, and I believe the circumstances weren’t what Lionel desired.”
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, had previously suggested that Messi’s tribute should align with the official inauguration of the revamped Spotify Camp Nou stadium, slated for the 2025-26 season.
In the meantime, the La Liga champions are temporarily playing their home matches at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
Kwarteng Seth