Lionel Messi signs with Inter Miami

Messi said he had chatted with close friend Xavi, the Barcelona manager, about returning to the club but "very little, once or twice at most" with president Joan Laporta. "We were very excited, because when something came out we would discuss if he really wanted me to come back, if it was good for the team and for him, and we kept in communication," Messi said. "We never even got to talk about the contract.