Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has heaped praise on Lionel Messi, stating the Argentine is among the greatest players of the past decade. The German tactician admitted he has always enjoyed watching Messi perform but cheekily pointed out that his own contract with the Catalan club expires before Messi’s deal with Inter Miami, stressing that any decision about a comeback is beyond his control.
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Messi’s Unexpected Camp Nou Visit
Messi’s journey from a La Masia youngster to a world football icon is one of the most captivating stories in the sport. After making the leap from Barcelona’s academy to the senior squad in 2004, he quickly demonstrated his extraordinary potential. His development reached new heights under Pep Guardiola, who reinvented him as a false nine — a role Messi redefined through intelligent movement, vision, and relentless goalscoring.
Across 17 glittering years at Camp Nou, Messi led Barcelona through their most successful era, winning 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies, while securing seven of his eight Ballon d’Or awards during his time at the club.
A dramatic twist came in 2021 when financial issues forced Barcelona to let him go. Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and later joined Inter Miami in 2023, where he continues to increase the MLS’s global standing while adding to his legendary career.
Though he signed a contract extension with Miami until 2028, Messi shared a photo from a recent visit to Camp Nou, expressing his longing to step onto the Barça pitch one final time.
“I hope I can return someday, not just to say goodbye as a player — because I never had the chance to do that,” he wrote.
Flick Responds with Humour
The Argentine’s appearance at the stadium has reignited speculation about a short-term return, possibly during the MLS offseason in January, ahead of the World Cup. When questioned about the possibility, Flick responded lightheartedly:
“Messi is the greatest footballer of the last decade, perhaps even longer. I’ve always loved watching him — he’s extraordinary. His contract ends in 2028, mine in 2027… so it’s not up to me to coach him.”
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Barcelona’s Injury Struggles
Flick steered Barcelona to the 2024–25 La Liga title and reached the Champions League semi-finals, narrowly losing 5–4 across two legs to Inter Milan. But the current campaign has begun on a challenging note. Barcelona trails Real Madrid by three points and has suffered two league defeats, including a 2–1 loss in El Clásico. Their Champions League display has also been disappointing, with the team currently placed 11th in the group stage standings.
Injury setbacks have played a significant role in this downturn, with prominent figures such as Pedri and Marcus Rashford out of action. However, the return of Raphinha and Joan Garcia has provided much-needed relief, offering Flick fresh tactical options.
“Right now, we may be missing the confidence we normally possess,” Flick admitted. “But with key players returning, things will improve. We have an outstanding squad, and if we match the level we showed in Vigo, everything will turn around.”
Camp Nou’s Emotional Reopening
With key names now back in contention, Flick aims to secure maximum points as Athletic Bilbao travel to Camp Nou for what promises to be an emotional occasion. The club’s iconic home ground reopens to fans for the first time in nearly three years after extensive renovation delays, regulatory hurdles, and phased construction forced Barcelona to host matches at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Although completed to a limited extent, with a capacity of just over 45,000 seats, the reopening marks a symbolic fresh start for both the squad and their supporters.
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