Fermin: If I Could Decide Who Barça Signs, I’d Pick Messi! I’d Sit on the Bench for Him!

On January 29, Barça player Fermin shared in a media interview his heartfelt wish for Messi to return to Barcelona.

The topic of Messi returning to Barça has been around for quite some time. After Messi declined multiple contract renewal offers from PSG in 2023, and despite interest from Inter Milan, Newcastle, and the Saudi clubs Riyadh Victory and Jeddah United—offering astronomical deals of €1 billion and €1.4 billion respectively—Messi’s first choice remained Barça. He even hoped to negotiate directly with Laporta. However, delays on the club’s side led Messi to decisively join Inter Miami, avoiding past pitfalls.

Given that MLS schedules do not overlap with Europe’s top leagues, a loan back to Barça was theoretically possible, allowing him to continue in La Liga. Messi, however, rejected such an arrangement, considering it beneath his status. Last year, his discreet night visit to Camp Nou reignited speculation about a potential return. During Barça’s presidential elections, Messi’s comeback naturally became a hot topic among candidates.

For Barça players, Messi returning would be a dream come true. Fermin stated that if he could choose one player for the club, it would undoubtedly be Messi—and he wouldn’t mind sitting on the bench to make it happen.

Realistically, a return remains unlikely. Laporta is unlikely to step down soon, and Messi is contracted with Inter Miami until 2028. Yet Messi and Barça’s unique bond ensures that the topic will remain evergreen in the football world, much like the “what if” of LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers.