Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami came after months and months of public flirting with old club Barcelona as he plotted his next move after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentina legend's future was the subject of fierce coverage during the summer of 2023. His contract with PSG was due to expire and Messi's fit with the French giants was awkward, failing to win over the club's fans during his two-season stay at Parc des Princes.
Barca were naturally interested in bringing the club's greatest ever player back to Catalonia and were even confident of announcing Messi's return during the transfer window. The Saudi Pro League was also touted as a potential destination before Inter Miami surged ahead in the pecking order and announced his arrival in Major League Soccer.
However, Messi's move to America hasn't stopped talk of a return to Barcelona one day. In fact, rumours have circulated suggesting the 36-year-old could re-sign for the Blaugrana on loan if he isn't involved in the MLS Cup Playoffs. But is that realistic?
Can Lionel Messi rejoin Barcelona on loan in January 2024?
Supporters have suggested Messi could sport Barcelona's colours again as soon as January 2024 if Inter Miami fail to make the playoffs.
David Beckham's club are looking increasingly unlikely to make the top nine in the Eastern Conference which would see them qualify for the MLS' post-season championship format.
The Herons are currently five points off the top-nine pace with only three games left to play, meaning they need a large points swing to go in their favour. Messi first played for Miami in the Leagues Cup, a new tournament which they won, before making his MLS debut in late August.
Miami are unbeaten in the four MLS games Messi has featured in but have been missing their talisman since the 4-0 thrashing of Toronto in September due to injury. Gerardo Martino's side have not won a game since, drawing with Orlando City and NYCFC and losing to Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup and Chicago Fire.
Messi was denied an on-pitch goodbye when he left Barca in 2021, with the club's financial crisis rendering them unable to fund a new contract, but a reunion in the form of an exhibition game has been mooted, most recently by Inter Miami club president Jorge Mas.
He recently told El Club del Deportista: "Messi's departure from Barcelona was not to his liking, he could not say goodbye to his club that welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted.
"I gave him my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years to give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona. Inter Miami will go or we will do some kind of match."
90min understands there is no current indication from Messi over wanting a return to Europe once his and Inter Miami's MLS season comes to an end. Barca themselves have given significant minutes to loan arrival Joao Felix and teenager Lamine Yamal so far this season and are happy their options.
How do the MLS Cup Playoffs work?
The 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs will see an increased number of teams compete from the Eastern and Western divisions. The top nine teams from the two conferences qualify and enter at different stages depending on their league finishes.
The wild card round sees eighth and ninth from each conference face off in a single game for a spot in round one, where best-of-three ties take place. From there, conference semi-finals and finals are contested before the MLS Cup final.
Los Angeles FC are the defending champions after beating Philadelphia Union on penalties in 2022.
Q = qualified for 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs
Why didn't Lionel Messi rejoin Barcelona in 2023?
Officials from Barca consistently reiterated their desire to bring Messi back during the summer. Then PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed the forward's exit at the start of June but Barca's financial difficulties meant they were left waiting for approval from La Liga over their transfer plans following months of talks with Messi's camp.
Messi's father, Jorge, was seen meeting with Joan Laporta and admitted returning to his former club was "an option".
He added: "Messi wants to return to Barca and I would love for him to come back."
However, talks between Messi senior and Laporta did not go well and it soon emerged Messi and former Barca teammate Sergio Busquets had agreed sensational moves to Inter Miami.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Could Lionel Messi rejoin Barcelona on loan in January?.
