Lionel Messi’s recent ‘return’ to Barcelona during the international window revived countless memories for Barcelona supporters.
The Argentine megastar provided an endless number of moments of joy at the Camp Nou, a stadium that is close to reopening its doors.
And, in a moment that has since gone viral, the eight-time Ballon d’Or paid a secret visit to the renovated stadium and clicked a few pictures, surprising the club hierarchy as well as the millions of fans across the globe.
Sergio Busquets on Messi’s Barcelona visit
Although Messi’s return to Barcelona as a player seems unlikely, more so after his recent contract renewal with Inter Miami, the affection that the city and the club still hold for the world champion remains unquestioned.
This is something that his close friend and Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets highlighted on Tuesday during a press conference.
“As his teammate at Barça, at Inter, and as a friend of Leo, we all know what he has meant to Barça, to all the Barça fans,” said Busquets.
Barcelona legends Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi
Busquets and Messi at Inter Miami. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The iconic midfielder admitted that, as a former Barcelona player, he feels proud that Messi continues to be associated with the club.
“As the president has said, he will always be welcome, and for us, it is a source of pride that Leo is always associated with Barcelona,” he explained.
With his playing career nearing its end, Busquets ruled out any possibility of stepping onto the new Camp Nou pitch again as a footballer.
He said he would visit the stadium, but only as a spectator, and would continue enjoying Barcelona from outside the pitch.
“I’d love to visit it, but my playing days are over. I’ve done what I had to do, I cherish those memories, you can’t be everywhere in every era, everyone has their own path. But I’m really looking forward to visiting Camp Nou and enjoying it,” Busquets concluded.
Source: AS