As much as the Manchester United legend and Inter Miami co-owner wants Messi to stay in Miami, a return to Barcelona seems inevitable.

According to an article in an Argentine newspaper quoted by Adam Drury at Goal.com, all-time soccer MVP and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi will return to Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of this year.

Inter Miami has reassigned president of football operations Raul Sanllehi, replacing him with a longtime mentor of Lionel Messi.

It's pretty clear Messi and Inter Miami weren't satisfied with how 2024 went. But improving on their one major trophy win in 2025 is far from a guarantee.

Sanllehi’s duties have been reassigned to the club’s academy director Guillermo Hoyos, a long-time confidant and former academy coach of Inter Miami captain and former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. GiveMeSport’s Tom Bogert first reported news of Sanllehi’s reassignment.

Lionel Messi wants to re-join Barcelona when his time at Inter Miami draws to a close, according to sensational reports in Spain. The Argentina legend left Camp Nou to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021,

One of the reinforcements Lionel Messi could have had at Inter Miami might end up staying with his current team.