Messi left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2022/23 season and was initially advised to return to Barcelona. However, partly due to financial problems, the move to Barcelona was never achieved.

Speaking to TIME after being named their Player of the Year, Messi revealed he wanted to return to Barca but a move was not possible. He said:

"The fact is that luckily I have a lot of interesting options on the table and I have to analyze them and think and weigh with my family before making the final decision to come to Miami.

My first option was to go back to Barcelona, ​​but it was impossible. "I tried to come back and it did not happen."