Barcelona invite Lionel Messi to opening of new stadium but admit communication with legend is ‘no longer fluid’

BARCELONA president Joan Laporta has invited ex-player and legend Lionel Messi to the inauguration of the revamped Nou Camp.

However, the former Spanish politician admitted that his relationship with his former employee “isn’t as fluid as it once was”, but did say that the Argentine would “always be welcome back at the club, as it’s his home”.

EPA

Joan Laporta has been talking about Barcelona’s revamped stadium[/caption]

AFP

Messi has been told he is welcome back at the Nou Camp – but not to play[/caption]

Speaking to publication Esports RAC1, Laporta said: “My communication with Messi is no longer fluid but I’d love to have Leo here present with us during the inauguration of the new stadium.”

The club recently approved plans for a £1.3billion revamp of their decaying ground that they hope to have completed in 2025.

Messi left Barcelona last summer to join French side Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.

Speaking on the transfer, Laporta said the club had to act due to Barca’s money problems.

He said: “Camp Nou will always be his home. His departure to PSG? We did what we had to do [last summer].”

Messi has struggled to replicate his electric form for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and has only scored two goals in Ligue 1 since arriving in the French capital.

When asked about a possible permanent move back to the five-time Champions League winners, Laporta rebuffed any talk of a sensational reunion between the pair.

He said: “There’s no conversation with Leo Messi over his potential comeback to Barça. The reality is that we’re not considering this possibility. Leo is Leo, he’s the best – but this kind of deal is not part of our plans.”

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According to Spanish journalist Gerard Romero Messi’s father Jorge Messi phoned up his old club to see if a move back to the Nou Camp was a possibility.

Messi scored 672 times in 778 appearances at Barcelona and picked up a remarkable 34 trophies.

It seems that now being a guest for the stadium opening will be the closest Messi comes to a return.