Barcelona Presidential Candidate Victor Font Reveals Talks with Messi for Potential Homecoming
As the Barcelona presidential candidate race heats up, Victor Font has disclosed conversations with Lionel Messi about a potential return to Camp Nou if he emerges victorious in next month's elections. Font's vision includes giving Messi the opportunity to bid farewell to the club in his preferred manner and offering him an honorary role at Barcelona.
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has revealed he has had conversations with club legend Lionel Messi over a potential return to Camp Nou if he wins next month's elections. Font says he wants to give Messi the chance to say goodbye to Barcelona "in whatever way he chooses" and is also willing to offer him the role of honorary president at the club.Election season is in full swing in Barcelona, with candidates campaigning hard ahead of next month's big vote. Font is seen as Joan Laporta's biggest rival in the race to be elected Barcelona president and has regularly spoken of his desire to bring Argentine maestro Messi back to the club for a "last dance." Font now claims to have spoken with Messi about a Barcelona homecoming and has revealed they have been working on a project to tempt the club legend back for the last four years.Font told Mundo Deportivo: "Yes, we've spoken directly with Messi and people close to him. These are private conversations, and we've always maintained that no one should use Messi for electoral purposes. Our duty is to explain what we've prepared and, if we win, finalize the agreement that's best for him and the club."Since 2022, we've been working on a project to bring Messi back to Barça after the World Cup, driven by his and Xavi's enthusiasm. The proposal has three pillars: institutional, for him to accept the position of honorary president; commercial, inspired by partnerships like Jordan-Nike or Federer-On, which could generate significant revenue and leverage his minority stake in Inter Miami to strengthen his presence in the American market; and sporting, so he can say goodbye to Barça and the Camp Nou in whatever way he chooses, whether by playing or through a tribute."Font also spoke about his overall aims for the club and his desire to improve their dire financial situation, adding: "Our candidacy seeks to professionalize and modernize the club, integrating diverse groups and protecting the institution from risks, especially financial ones, in order to strengthen the sporting project, pay off the debt, and develop an ambitious social program."Laporta remains the frontrunner to win the elections but has openly admitted his relationship with Messi is damaged following the forward's shock exit from the club in 2021. Messi subsequently refused to greet Laporta at the 2023 Ballon d'Or gala and the 63-year-old has now lifted the lid on his shock exit in his new book 'This Is How We Saved Barça.'"When negotiating the renewal, he had a very demanding team, and although his father was more understanding, his inner circle gave the impression that he wasn't. We came up with a crazy solution: a long-term contract with an initial stint as a Barça player and a second on loan to an MLS team, something that seemed to circumvent LaLiga's rules. But LaLiga told us to forget it, that we had to sign an agreement to sell a percentage of the television rights for fifty years through a fund called CVC," he wrote, per Marca.Laporta also says there was a chance to bring Messi back before he signed for Inter Miami, adding: "Jorge Messi came to my house, I prepared the contract, I sent him the draft and he didn't respond. A week goes by, two... a month later, he finally comes back to my house and tells me that they have decided to go to Inter Miami, where he won't be under so much pressure."Messi remains in Miami and has recently signed a contract with the club that runs through to the end of the 2028 MLS season.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingBarcelona's presidential elections are scheduled for March 15th, the same day Hansi Flick's side are due to take on Sevilla in La Liga. According to Mundo Deportivo, Laporta is the clear favourite for victory ahead of Font, Marc Ciria and Xavi Vilajoana.
Font's Vision for Messi's Return
Victor Font has shared insights into his long-standing efforts to entice Lionel Messi back to Barcelona post-World Cup. He emphasized that the proposal for Messi's return is multifaceted, with pillars focused on institutional, commercial, and sporting aspects. The plan seeks to leverage Messi's iconic status to bolster the club both on and off the field.
Financial Reforms and Sporting Ambitions
In addition to Messi's potential return, Font outlined his broader objectives for Barcelona. He aims to streamline and modernize the club while addressing their precarious financial situation. Professionalizing the organization, clearing debts, and enhancing the social program are key elements in Font's strategic agenda to revitalize Barcelona's sporting project.
Laporta's Perspective on Messi's Departure
In contrast to Font's overtures, Joan Laporta has offered insights into the tumultuous negotiations that surrounded Lionel Messi's exit from Barcelona. Laporta's attempts to keep Messi at the club included a novel contractual arrangement that involved a loan to an MLS team, which ultimately did not materialize due to league regulations. Laporta also revealed details of a failed attempt to re-sign Messi before his move to Inter Miami.
The Tumultuous Journey of Messi and Barcelona
The saga of Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona continues to unfold, with the forward currently plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami. As the presidential elections loom on the horizon, the prospect of Messi's potential return to Camp Nou under Victor Font's leadership adds an intriguing layer to the club's evolving narrative.









