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Messi: I will return to Barcelona, but...

Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi says returning to Barcelona is planned - once he hangs up the boots.

Messi, however, has ruled out a loan move to Barca in January from Inter Miami.

"No, not at all," he said. "Now that I have taken a step forward by coming here to the United States, I don't think I will ever play again (in Europe).

"Of course I will miss playing the Champions League or the Liga for the rest of my life, games with a special flavour. But I enjoyed it as much as I could, so I don't have any frustration."

Regarding his future and the time he has left playing football, Messi was clear: "I have always said that I do not think about the future, that I go day by day. I feel good physically. I don't know how much longer I will play.

"I want to continue until I feel that I can't take it anymore, that my physical condition does not allow me to play as I would like. Time will tell."

He added, "Once my football career is over we will return to Barcelona. It is our home, where we have our habits, our friends. Whether it is my wife, my children or me.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do right now. I haven't thought about it yet and I don't want to."

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