All-time great Lionel Messi has explained his decision to move to Inter Miami in a joint interview with Spanish newspapers SPORT and Mundo Deportivo.

The 35-year-old confirmed his first choice was to return to the Catalan giants but cited his concerns about not being able to be registered in time to commence the 2023-24 La Liga campaign with Barca.

Lionel Messi confirms Barca and Saudi Arabia interest

Regarding a potential return to the Nou Camp, Messi said in an interview that took place yesterday in Paris, “ I really wanted to return to Barça, I had that dream. But after what happened two years ago, I did not want to be in the same situation again, leaving my future in the hands of someone else. I wanted to make my own decision.”

Messi added that the motive behind his MLS move was not money, telling Mundo Deportivo journalist Fernando Polo, “If it had been a matter of money, I’d have gone to Arabia or elsewhere. It seemed like a lot of money to me. With the Barça deal collapsing, I wanted to try something different now in Miami.”

Knowing the financial state of the Catalans, Messi voiced his belief that Barca may not have been fully committed to the transfer, saying, “I’m not sure if Barça did everything possible to make it happen, honestly; I’m sure that there’s people in the club that does not want me to return to Barça, considering that negative for the club”.