Was Lionel Messi the Problem? Barcelona Chief Explains Why Inter Miami Move Was Right for Everyone

Deco opens up on why a Barcelona return for Messi never truly made sense — even if hearts said otherwise

In the summer of 2023, the stars almost aligned. Lionel Messi, freshly departed from a turbulent stint at Paris Saint-Germain, was on the market. Barcelona, his spiritual footballing home, had seemingly laid the emotional groundwork for a blockbuster reunion. Fans dreamed of the No. 10 once again gracing the Camp Nou, weaving magic in blaugrana colours. Even Messi himself was reportedly open to the idea. But the fairytale never came true.

Instead, the Argentine headed west — far west — to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. And according to Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director and a former teammate of Messi’s, that decision may have been a blessing in disguise — not just for Messi, but for Barça as well.

Too much pressure, not enough peace

Deco Barcelona 2024

In a candid interview with Globo Esporte, Deco revealed the reasoning behind Barcelona’s decision not to pursue Messi more aggressively. It wasn’t about money, nor was it a lack of love. It was about pressure.

“He may have wanted to go to Miami,” Deco explained. “After Paris, the most important thing was for him to find himself again and be happy. Maybe that wouldn’t have happened at Barcelona, because the pressure would have been too much.”

That single sentence encapsulates the delicate emotional balancing act involved in Messi’s situation. Returning to Barcelona, where he spent more than two decades and became the club’s greatest-ever player, might have been romantic — but it could have also been suffocating. For Messi, aged 36 at the time, coming back to a rebuilding Barça side burdened with expectations could have easily turned from dream to ordeal.

“I think it was good for everyone,” Deco added. “Barcelona continued on its path, trying to rebuild itself. And Messi continued on his path, scoring goals and being happy.”

Inter Miami: a move that changed the narrative

Messi

When Messi landed in Miami, some questioned the decision. Was it just a lifestyle choice? A semi-retirement plan? Could the world’s best player really make a mark in a league still trying to grow its global credibility?

The answer, in hindsight, has been a resounding yes. Messi’s arrival transformed MLS overnight. Inter Miami became an international sensation, tickets sold out across the country, TV ratings soared, and merchandising numbers reached new heights. On the pitch, the Argentine maestro proved he still had plenty of magic in his boots, scoring freely and dictating games with the same grace and vision that had defined his European career.

More importantly, he looked at peace. He smiled. He embraced the project, mentored younger players, and reconnected with the sheer joy of football — something that had looked absent during his final year at PSG.

Barcelona moves forward, too

Meanwhile, back in Catalonia, Barcelona has quietly put the pieces together under Xavi’s stewardship. The squad, filled with emerging talent like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, and Ronald Araújo, has grown into its own identity without having to constantly orbit around the gravitational pull of Messi’s legacy.

That doesn’t mean Messi was ever a burden — far from it. But sometimes, icons cast long shadows. Had he returned, every misstep might’ve been magnified. Every decision questioned. Could a young team thrive in the same space as their towering idol?

Deco seems to think the answer, pragmatically, is no. And the club’s relative success in the post-Messi era — including a La Liga title and a clear tactical identity — suggests he might be right.

The myth of the perfect reunion

Romance in football is powerful. We all love a comeback story — the prodigal son, the unfinished chapter. Messi returning to Barcelona would’ve fit that narrative perfectly. But the reality is often messier than the myth.

Had Messi rejoined Barça in 2023, financial gymnastics would’ve been needed. The club’s wage structure was already strained, and Messi’s presence might have slowed the development of others. And then there’s the emotional weight: what happens if he doesn’t deliver? If Barça don’t win?

Sometimes, it’s better to leave the picture perfect. Messi’s tearful farewell in 2021 may still sting, but his legacy remains untarnished. He didn’t return and risk rewriting the ending. Instead, he turned the page.

What’s next for Messi?

Now 38, Messi shows no signs of slowing down just yet. His next challenge? Leading Inter Miami in the Club World Cup this summer, held fittingly in the United States. They’ll face a tricky group featuring Al Ahly, FC Porto, and Palmeiras — a proper test of Inter Miami’s newfound ambition.

There are still whispers, of course, about another potential return to Barcelona — maybe for a farewell match, maybe in a behind-the-scenes role. The emotional connection remains intact, and the club has made no secret of its willingness to honour Messi’s legacy in a more formal way down the line.

But for now, Messi is exactly where he wants to be — playing football, scoring goals, and enjoying life in a city that has embraced him without pressure.

The right call, even if it hurt

In the end, Deco’s remarks offer a sobering reminder that football isn’t always about sentiment. Sometimes the hardest decisions are the right ones. Messi didn’t return to Barcelona — not because he didn’t love the club, but because he needed something different.

And Barcelona, trying to forge a new identity without leaning too heavily on its golden past, needed something different too.

Looking back, it wasn’t a rejection. It was a mutual understanding. Two paths, once intertwined, diverging for the sake of happiness and growth.

Messi will always be part of Barcelona’s story — its greatest chapter, most likely. But not every story needs a sequel.