Barcelona hint at Lionel Messi tribute as Camp Nou renovation nears completion

Since Messi’s departure, tribute talks stalled, but Barcelona VP Elena Fort now hints at one when the renovated Camp Nou reopens.

Since Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona, talk of a tribute has surfaced several times but never truly taken shape. Now Barcelona’s vice president, Elena Fort, has hinted at the possibility of a tribute when the renovated Camp Nou reopens.

“Leo Messi’s tribute at Camp Nou must take place when the stadium is 100% finished,” Fort told La Vanguardia in an interview published on June 29. “It will definitely happen because he is the best player in Barça’s history.”

While the Camp Nou is set to open later this year, its won’t be completed until 2026. “I think that by the summer of 2026, we’ll be able to say the stadium is finished. Visually, it won’t be 100% complete, as the roof covering will still need to be closed. But everything else will be done,” she explained. 

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 due to the club’s dire financial situation, which made it impossible to register the contract they had agreed upon. The Argentine left the club with a record 778 appearances, scoring 672 goals, and being the player with most trophies in the history of the club (35). 

However, because of the pandemic, Messi’s final match with Barcelona was played behind closed doors, leaving many feeling that a proper tribute is long overdue. After leaving Barça, Messi spent two seasons at PSG, where he won two Ligue 1 titles, before moving on to join Inter Miami.

Camp Nou expected to reopen for Joan Gamper Trophy

Camp Nou has been out of action since the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, as major renovation work continues on the iconic stadium. However, there is growing optimism that a limited-capacity version of the ground could be ready in time to host this year’s Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10.

To allow for additional preparation time, Barcelona have requested that their first three fixtures of the upcoming La Liga season be played away from home. This would give the club more breathing room to finalize the stadium’s readiness for competitive matches.

From: bolavip.com