Lionel Messi’s recent visit to Camp Nou came as a total surprise, with reports revealing that even Barcelona had no prior knowledge of it.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and club legend paid an emotional, unplanned late-night visit to the stadium where he spent 21 remarkable years of his career. Now representing Inter Miami, the Argentine star later shared photos from his visit on social media, expressing his deep nostalgia and affection for his former home.
As soon as Leo Messi posted his picture at the newly constructed Camp Nou, netizens and Barca fans went wild to discuss his career. On one hand, Barca fans are ecstatic about Messi's return to Camp Nou. Messi himself wrote an emotional post.
“Last night I returned to a place I miss with my soul," Messi wrote, adding, “A place where I was immensely happy, where you guys made me feel a thousand times the happiest person in the world. I hope one day I can come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to..."
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But why and how Messi suddenly appeared at Camp Nou has not been revealed to the Spanish media. Messi had not informed any Barcelona club officials beforehand that he would be going to Camp Nou at that time.
Argentina has a six-day camp in Alicante, Spain, before going to play against Angola in Africa. Messi came from Miami to Spain on his private plane and landed in Barcelona. He was accompanied by Rodrigo de Paul, another Argentine footballer who plays at Inter Miami. Although Messi has a house on the outskirts of Barcelona city, instead of going there, the two stayed at a hotel near Camp Nou. At night, Messi went to Camp Nou, taking Rodrigo with him.
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Last Friday, the newly constructed Camp Nou was opened to fans for the first time. 23,000 spectators watched the Barcelona team's open practice. Many believe that seeing all this, Messi wanted to return to his old club. He won the most trophies in his nearly 20-year career, starting from the youth team.
Barcelona club told Spanish media that upon reaching Camp Nou, Messi had requested the security personnel to let him enter inside. At that time, the door opened only after the security guards informed the Barcelona authorities. Again, another media claims that seeing Messi, the security guard let him go inside. The pictures of Messi at Camp Nou were reportedly taken by Rodrigo de Paul himself.
