Lionel Messi: Barcelona return played down by Tata Martino as Inter Miami coach jokes captain may be heading back to Spain ‘to visit’

• Messi’s MLS season ended on Saturday after Miami failed to defeat Cincinnati 
• The 36-year-old inarguably enjoyed the best spell of his career with Barcelona 
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

Tata Martino has quickly played down rumors of a possible loan move to Barcelona for Lionel Messi in January, after Inter Miami’s hopes of reaching the MLS playoffs came to a dead end.

Speaking to reporters after the 1-0 loss at home to Cincinnati on Saturday night, the Argentine and former Barca manager was asked about the possibility of the 36-year-old Messi returning to Europe to stay in shape during the MLS offseason. 

MLS action won’t start again until February, once the outcome of its postseason is determined later on this month. 

‘Is he going for fun? Maybe he’s going to visit Barcelona,’ said Martino in Spanish. 

‘Other than that, I don’t know anything else about it.’

Inter Miami’s Tata Martino admitted that he’s unaware of a move to Barcelona for Lionel Messi

Messi could return to Barcelona to keep in shape until the new MLS season starts in February

Messi has scored 12 goals in the combined 13 league and cup matches he played since joining Miami on a two-and-a-half-year deal in July. Miami was 8-0-4 with Messi before Saturday’s loss.

Cincinnati (20-5-8, 68 points) has already clinched the top berth in the East and a first-round bye. For Cincinnati, the win also avenged a home loss against Miami in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal on August 23.

Messi will join Argentina for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on October 12 and 17 respectively. 

With Miami’s season ending soon, Argentina must figure out how to maintain Messi’s fitness for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on November 16 and at Brazil five days later.

Messi, 36, inarguably enjoyed the best spell of his career from 2004 until 2021 with Barcelona,

Miami’s remaining league matches will be a home and road set against Charlotte October 18 and 21.

Previously, Martino revealed that Messi was ‘a lot happier’ playing in the U.S. than for Paris Saint Germain, where he had a torrid time after failing to bring a Champions League trophy to the French capital over two seasons playing there. 

Barcelona manager Xavi said in May that Messi – his former club teammate – has the talent to make the Blaugrana better. He added that a reunion in Catalonia ‘depends on the player.’ 

Messi scored 474 goals in 520 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions from 2004 until 2021. He won 10 La Liga titles, seven separate Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana cups, four Champions League trophies, two UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups with the Blaugrana. 

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