Barcelona tease a sensational January move for Lionel Messi in a series of cryptic AI generated images amid links to a loan switch from Inter Miami

• Lionel Messi left Barcelona in 2021 amid a crippling financial crises at the club
• The World Cup winner has missed the last four games for Inter Miami in the MLS 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ 

Barcelona have sent fans into a frenzy with a post that has teased the return of Lionel Messi amid reports linking him with a sensational reunion with the Camp Nou club. 

Messi and the Catalan giants went through an unceremonious divorce in 2021 as the club grappled with a crippling financial crisis. 

Since then, the 36-year-old has endured a disappointing two-year spell in Ligue 1 with PSG but was able to lead Argentina to a historic World Cup before departing the Parc des Princes last summer. 

Messi has taken the MLS by storm following his switch to Inter Miami but has missed the last four games with a scar tissue problem which has hampered the side’s chances of reaching the Eastern Conference playoffs with three games of the regular season left to play. 

Earlier this week, Spanish publication Sport, reported that Barcelona were lining up a remarkable move and the club’s recent Instagram post has done little to quiet speculation. 

Barcelona released the series of images which had fans certain they could see the forward

Lionel Messi found the net 672 times in 778 games during his remarkable Barcelona career

Messi cried when he said goodbye to Barcelona at an emotional press conference in 2021

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The images, created by Krea.Ai – a tool that allows users to create high quality visuals using AI – bore a striking resemblance to the forward’s often seen goal celebrations during his time with Barca. 

Fans quickly dug out footage Messi’s third goal in a stunning 4-3 comeback victory over arch rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in 2014. Though, in truth the artwork could hark back to many of the 672 goals he netted for the LaLiga club. 

The forward’s participation in Inter Miami’s next game against Cincinnati is still unclear but coach Tata Martino previously said he expected the Argentina World Cup star to play again this season.

He was also called up by his country for their next two World Cup qualifiers later this month, which is likely an indication that he is nearing a return.

If Miami reach the post-season, it could mean Messi remains in action up to December 9, which is when the MLS Cup final is staged.

That would then, according to the report in Spain, appear to end any chance of Messi returning to his team to play.

And even if a competitive return to Barcelona failed to materialise, Miami are open to making sure Messi gets a proper send-off from his old team.

Messi has made an electrifying start to life at Miami but has recently struggled with injury 

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