Jorge Mas, the co-owner of Major League Soccer club Inter Miami has revealed that he has promised Lionel Messi to provide him with a chance for a proper farewell from Barcelona.
The 7-time Ballon d’Or winner had an unceremonious exit from his boyhood club Barcelona. Messi left Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer of 2021. He joined French champions Paris Saint Germain. The Barcelona board had to let their talisman attacker leave. Barca didn’t have enough of a wage budget left to offer him a new contract.
Rumors surfaced that he could return to Catalonia in the summer. But the veteran striker chose to join Inter Miami instead.
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Now, the Inter Miami co-owner has revealed that he’ll do everything he can to organise a match between Inter Miami and Barcelona.
Speaking to El Club del Deportista, Mas said, “Messi’s departure from Barcelona was not to his liking. He could not say goodbye to his club that welcomed him as a child. I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted.
“I gave him my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years to give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona. Inter Miami will go or we will do some kind of match,” he said.
Inter Miami’s pursuit of Messi
Mas also revealed a private chat with Messi’s father Jorge before signing the Argentine.
“I told him[Messi’s father], ‘Your son will have the opportunity to create a new legacy because he is going to be able to change a sport in a country,’ and that is given in very few opportunities to an athlete.
“I kept in constant communication with Jorge [Messi]. It was four and a half years of convincing Lionel and having him decide with his family. I never lost faith.”
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