Lionel Messi set for Barcelona return: Argentina & Inter Miami star will attend 125th anniversary celebration after Joan Laporta sets aside differences to send personal invite

Messi joined Barcelona's youth setup in 2000 as a 13-year-old and quickly started rising through the La Masia hierarchy and made his senior debut in 2004 under Frank Rijkaard. The Argentine forward quickly established himself as the best player in the world, and potentially of all time, over the next few years and stayed at Camp Nou until the summer of 2021. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, however, had to leave the club that summer after the Catalan side's financial troubles meant that they were left unable to hand the Argentine a new contract despite president Laporta having made promises to him. This left a very bitter relationship between the two, which has not healed despite three years having passed since.

As per Catalunya Radio's Tot Costa, Laporta is looking to put aside those differences and has sent a personal invite to Messi to attend Barcelona's 125th-anniversary celebrations at the prestigious Liceu Theatre on November 29, in an event that is set to play host to several Barcelona legends including Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Pep Guardiola among others. As per the report, the Argentine World Cup winner is very likely to attend the event and looks to be ready to make his return to the club for the first time since his departure, even having missed Iniesta's retirement celebrations last month due to his commitments with the national team.

Barcelona are also set to play host to former manager Louis van Gaal at the ceremony, potentially resulting in Messi meeting the former Netherlands coach for the first time since the famous clash between the two during Argentina and the Oranjes' 2022 World Cup quarter-final clash in Qatar.

The Argentine enigma will not be in action until Inter Miami begin the Major League Soccer preseason preparations after being knocked out by Atalanta United in the playoffs earlier this month, that will leave enough time for Messi to make his way to Barcelona for the 125th Celebration Gala on November 29 and potentially even make his way to the Estadi Olimpic on November 30 to watch Hansi Flick's side in action against Las Palmas.