The recent visit of Argentine star Lionel Messi to Barcelona and the club’s stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, has once again raised speculation about the possibility of the Argentine star returning to the team in which he lived the most memorable moments of his career. In an Instagram post, the player stood smiling on the field and wrote a caption full of nostalgia: “Last night I returned to a place that I miss in my soul. The place where I was so happy, where you made me feel a thousand times that I was the happiest person in the world. I hope to return one day, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I have never been able to do that…”
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The message moved the fans and fueled the dream of seeing Messi again in the burgundy shirt. Contrary to what it may seem, the idea is not impossible. A contractual loophole known as the ‘Beckham Clause’ – which has already been used by other football stars – could allow the Argentine to temporarily return to Barcelona without having to break his contract with Inter Miami.
The rule appeared in Major League Soccer (MLS), the American league in which Messi plays, and stipulates that players can be loaned to other clubs during the period between championship seasons. Since the MLS calendar runs from February to October, the break between seasons lends itself to short-term loans, generally between December and February.
In practical terms, this means that Barcelona can rely on Messi for about three months – precisely in the crucial phase of the European calendar, when clubs compete for titles and the knockout stages. However, the transfer must be completed before the start of the new MLS season.
This model has already been used by names such as Landon Donovan, who was loaned out to Everton on two occasions during the American break, as well as Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and David Beckham himself, who inspired the clause.
Lionel Messi gets a “Smurfs” cake for his 38th birthday
With the Club World Cup being held in the country where he works, the Argentine player is taking advantage of the holidays to celebrate with his family
If Barcelona express interest and Inter Miami agree to release the star on a short-term basis, the so-called ‘Beckham clause’ could allow Messi to return to wearing the shirt that made him famous – and finally end his love story with the club in a symbolic way, on the pitch.
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