Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted that a return for Lionel Messi to Camp Nou remains “complicated”, despite the emotional pull and the history the club shares with its former captain.
Messi left Barcelona in 2021, ending a landmark spell in which he became the club’s record scorer and won every major honour available. Since then, the idea of bringing him back has continued to surface, but Deco has stressed that the situation is not straightforward.
Speaking about the possibility of Messi coming back, Deco made it clear that the club’s current reality makes any reunion difficult. “It’s complicated,” he said, while pointing to the many factors Barcelona must manage when making decisions about the squad.
Deco also addressed recent talk surrounding two of the club’s biggest names, Robert Lewandowski and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, as Barcelona continue to navigate transfer noise and expectations around key players.
Lewandowski, who joined from Bayern Munich in 2022, remains one of the most important figures in Xavi’s squad. Deco spoke about the striker’s situation amid rumours, maintaining that the club’s focus is on stability and keeping the squad strong.
Ter Stegen, Barcelona’s long-time No.1, has also been linked with possible moves in recent weeks. Deco responded to the speculation as well, underlining the reality of the transfer market while reiterating the goalkeeper’s standing at the club.
For now, Deco’s message was clear: while Messi’s name will always be connected to Barcelona, a return is not an easy deal to make happen, and the club must balance everything from squad plans to the wider demands of the market.
