Barcelona plan to pay tribute to Messi in 2024/25 at the new Camp Nou

Joan Laporta made headlines last week by holding a meeting with Lionel Messi’s father Jorge Messi. The meeting was largely organised to normalise relations between the two parties, following admitted resentment from the Messi camp towards Laporta for not making enough effort to keep him at the club in 2021.

Barcelona, though, were not able to hold talks over Messi’s future as the player’s camp remained clear about not returning to Camp Nou to play for Barça ever again.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the main focus of the meeting was to talk about Barcelona’s plan to offer Messi a tribute, due to his years of service at Camp Nou and the fact that the Argentine had shared most of his sporting achievements with the Catalan entity.

Barça’s president Laporta’s plan is to organise a tribute somewhere during the 2024/25 season, when the renovations at Camp Nou, under the Espai Barça project, are completed – one which will significantly increase the overall capacity of the stadium whilst boosting infrastructure.

The Espai Barça project will offer Barcelona the opportunity to pay an ideal tribute to Messi, who has been the most gifted player to ever play for the club. It will also be an opportunity for the club to showcase and promote its sporting project.

Messi’s camp, though, has refused to comment when asked about the tribute organised by Barcelona. They appear to be too occupied with the player’s future, though it is likely that the Argentine will pen a contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain.

His current deal at PSG expires at the end of the season, but a new deal could see him remain in the French capital at least until 2024.