The clause that ignites the imagination of Barcelona fans » Leo Messi could follow Thierry Henry and Beckham!
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, November 11, 2025 21:54 / Updated Tuesday, November 11, 2025 21:57
Lionel Messi (age 38), his captain Inter Miamihas chances to turn the statements made on Monday into reality. The Argentine star could end his longing for Barcelona, the city that was his home from 2000 to 2021, and return to the capital of Catalonia next month! But a transfer of the world champion would only be possible until February, thanks to a special clause.
Barcelona fans dream of seeing him wear the Blaugrana shirt again. The idea is not utopian, as there is a legal way in which he can return without violating the contract with Inter Miami, namely the “David Beckham Clause”.
3 month loan in Europe during the competitive break from the USA
In the past, it was used by Thierry Henry and Beckham himself to play for Arsenal and AC Milan respectively. And on the basis of which Son Heung-min could also return to Tottenham this winter.
The slot speculates on the difference in Major League Soccer's (MLS) schedule compared to most leagues around the world and offers the chance to to catch a few months of soccer in Europe during the competitive break from the United States.
Thierry Henry and David Beckham were the trailblazers with MLS winter loans / Photo: Imago
MLS is divided into two Conferences, Western and Eastern, and the regular season runs from February to October. At the end of it, the top seven teams in each Conference qualify for the play-offs, which conclude in early December.
During the break between seasons, players may be loaned to other clubs in the ongoing leagues without violating the agreements in place with their North American Championship team.
Lionel Messi's hypothetical transfer to Barcelona will have to be completed before the start of the new MLS season
The rule stipulates that the loan must end before the start of the new MLS season, scheduled for the end of February. Hypothetically speaking, Barcelona could benefit from Messi's services for three months. A crucial period of the season, when the teams that will compete for trophies are clearly defined”, explained MARCA.
Messi parted ways with Barcelona in 2021, leaving Camp Nou in tears after 21 years, 4 Champions Leagues, 7 Ballon d'Or and 10 La Liga titles. Leo then went to PSG, where he played for two years. He described the time spent in Paris as a “nightmare”. At the end of the contract with the Parisian team, he signed with Inter Miami in 2023.
Lionel Messi wants to live in Barcelona after retirement from football / Instagram photo @LionelMessi
I want to go back. We miss Barcelona a lot. The kids and wife always talk about Barcelona and the idea of living there again. We have our house, we have everything, so that's what we want.
The affection of the fans is spectacular. I feel nostalgic. I am grateful to be part of this club, to have arrived here when I was young and to have grown up and spent my whole life in Barcelona.Lionel Messithe captain of Inter Miami
This year, Messi signed a three-year extension with the US team. At the end of the adventure in Miami, the Argentine will return to live in Barcelona, as he himself announced.
