Barca presidential candidate promises Messi Camp Nou return

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has promised that the first thing he will do if he defeats current incumbent Joan Laporta is to call Lionel Messi.

Often regarded as the greatest player in Barcelona history, Messi recently returned to the under-construction Camp Nou, fuelling speculation about a possible move back to the club.

Font has now insisted he would like Messi back at the club in any capacity.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, presidential candidate Font declared that the first call he will make after winning the election will be to Messi.

A fan holds an FC Barcelona short featuring the name of Lionel Messi (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

“Personally, as a Barca fan, I get goosebumps, but obviously this depends on him, and what we shouldn’t do is try to use him,” he said when asked of a possible Messi return before the World Cup winner retires. “I think Laporta has done it, and he’s done it many times, and I think he’s done it wrong; the most blatant example was during the elections. Another example of a broken promise, and I believe Messi shouldn’t be used, but Messi needs to know that the first thing I’ll do when I win the elections is pick up the phone and call him. It will be the first phone call I make.

“Our obligation is to speak with everyone who can make contributions for the future, and it’s important that we know their intentions. But what I’m saying is also important: we need to understand that these are club assets. And using them makes no sense. But as I said, the first call I’ll make when we win the elections will be to Leo Messi.”

Lionel Messi currently plays in the United States with Inter Miami. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

The Barcelona presidential election campaign for 2026, scheduled between March and May, is gaining momentum.

Victor Font has officially announced that he will challenge Laporta, setting up a major showdown. He had the full support of former Barcelona star and manager Xavi Hernandez.

The former Spain International visited his event and publicly declared his support.

Font added: “We need to embrace Leo Messi and do everything possible to ensure that, as soon as possible, he has the role at Barca that, as he said last week, he wants and that all Barca fans would be thrilled about. Having a statue of him doesn’t even begin to cover it. ”

On Saturday, Barcelona will finally play their first match at Camp Nou in more than two years when they face Athletic Club.