Tevez reveals why Messi turned down Barcelona

Stuart Telford

• 10 Jun 2023 11:36 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi has joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain, choosing the MLS ahead of an emotional Barcelona return, and former Argentina teammate Carlos Tevez has revealed why.

Messi is Barcelona's and perhaps the game's greatest player of all time, with his 672 goals and 303 assists from 778 appearances all club records at Camp Nou.

A seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and, since December, a World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi was the most valuable player on available on the free transfer market this summer, with Al-Hilal also willing to offer him €400 million a year to move to Saudi Arabia.

READ: Messi, Beckham and greatest MLS greatest coups

But he turned down Barca and Al-Hilal to join David Beckham's project at Inter Miami, and now Tevez - who played alongside Messi for Argentina between 2005 and 2015 - has spoken about his former teammate's decision.

Messi longed for Barca

"No one was more hurt than Leo that he couldn't return to Barcelona," the former Manchester United, City and Juventus man told ESPN. "He made a decision knowing and understanding his own situation a bit.

"He didn't want to return to Barcelona and have his teammates be sold, or their salaries cut down - to be a bad guy in the movie again. I think it was all very lukewarm on Barcelona's part.

READ: How Inter Miami will line up with Messi

"Leo leaned towards the MLS; he likes Miami; it's peace of mind for him and his family. I think what he did was the correct thing. If it wasn't Barcelona, he didn't want anything in Europe. The decision is very well taken."

Barca have been told by La Liga to reduce their debt by €200m this summer if they want to defend their title next term, and Messi's acquisition would have reportedly required the entire staff - from players to dinner ladies - agreeing to a salary reduction.