Barcelona confession from Lionel Messi! 'I want to come back'

Lionel Messi visited the renovated Camp Nou and expressed his desire to return to Barcelona one day.

Messi, who made a surprise visit to the stadium amid rumors of a comeback, made candid statements to Catalan newspaper Sport and expressed his longing for the club.

In summary from Sport's interview:

-How do you feel the love from Barcelona?

It's unbelievable. Everything that comes from the city, from the people, from that period we lived in always makes me nostalgic, it makes me very emotional.I miss those moments a lot; maybe even more than then, I enjoy them more now, because in those days we couldn't fully enjoy what was going on, with match after match, thinking about the next one. When years pass, when we look from a distance and more calmly, we feel everything much more intensely.

-Do you relive the past?

Of course, I enjoy watching them; they were very meaningful and important memories, worth remembering.

"I COULDN'T LEAVE BARCELONA THE WAY I WANTED TO"

People haven't forgotten, that's clear. I've said it before; the separation felt strange. I finished my last years playing in front of empty stands because of the pandemic, so I had a strange feeling. Because I've been in Barcelona all my life, I couldn't say goodbye the way I imagined. I was planning to finish my European career here and then go elsewhere. The farewell was a bit incomplete because of the situation. But people's love will always remain, because of what we went through. I think I played for the first team for 16 years, 20-21 years have passed since I arrived when I was 12-13 years old. Most of my life was spent there, the love will last forever.

-New generations are coming but the impact you made continues...

Yes, that's how it always happens in football. New players come but history is not forgotten. This is not only for me, but for everyone who contributed to the club.

"I REMEMBER EVERYTHING ABOUT BARCELONA"

-You'll be remembered with love, it's indelible. You said the hardest moment, which is the happiest?

It's hard to choose one. Thank God I had so many moments, the first six with Guardiola was amazing, the last Champions League with Luis Enrique. I can't pick just one moment. I grew up in that period both as a person and as a player, I remember everything. When I see the footage, those seasons and what we went through come alive in my mind.

"I WATCH BARCELONA ALL THE TIME"

-Is happiness only about trophies? If you don't look at the trophies, what do you remember?

Being part of this club, coming here as a child and growing up, spending my whole life in Barcelona... I thank God that my children were born in this city. I am grateful to the club and the city; there are many things that keep me there.

-Do you follow the team?

Yes, with a few other people, watching, commenting, talking about the results and the game.

"PARIS WAS BEAUTIFUL BUT I WASN'T HAPPY"

-You were happy in Barcelona, you didn't say that when we last met in Paris. Now you seem happy with the results.

Paris was not hell. I said I didn't have a bad time, but I didn't feel good because I wasn't happy with football, daily life, training, matches. We had a good experience as a family, the city was great. We were leaving Barcelona for the first time, everything was new, so it was difficult. But I didn't feel good.

How is the adaptation to the MLS?

Everything is fine, we are enjoying everyday life. It's more relaxed, there's less pressure, there's no obligation to win. We want to win but the pressure is different, which allows us to spend more time with our family, with our children. It's nice to come home and focus on other things without thinking about football. My mood is more balanced.

-You're getting older but you're still top scorer. What motivates you?

What I've been doing since I was a kid and what I'm most passionate about: Playing soccer and competing. I don't like losing, every time I go out on the pitch I go out to win. When we came to Miami the club was young, growing. It was difficult to make it competitive, to take it to championships, but we did it. As long as I feel good physically, I will continue in the same way. The moment I realize that I'm struggling, that I'm not enjoying it, I'll stop, but right now I'm enjoying it.

-Your friends with you are leaving...

It's very strange, especially Jordi Alba. Busquets and I were talking about it, but Jordi suddenly decided. He gathered in the dressing room, he said he was retiring. We didn't expect it. We are friends, we started this journey together. We are of the same generation, it was nice to share the last years of our career.

"THE WORLD CUP IS SPECIAL BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A BURDEN"

-World Cup is coming up, are you excited?

Yes, it's a special tournament. Playing for the national team means more, especially after winning. But I don't want to be a burden, I want to make sure I'm physically fit and can contribute to the team. Our season is different, there's a preparation period. I will test myself every day, but I know how big the World Cup is, I'm excited.

"I WANT TO GO BACK TO CAMP NOU"

-Lastly, do you have a message for the fans?

I can't wait to go back to Camp Nou. We miss Barcelona a lot; my children, my wife, talk about it all the time, the idea of going back. Our home, everything is there. I want to go back when the stadium is finished. I didn't visit Camp Nou after I went to Paris, then they moved to Montjuic. It will be strange to see the new stadium but it will be very exciting to relive those memories, to remember them.