Messi's blunt response to Thiago leaving Inter Miami for La Masia | OneFootball

After the rumors surrounding the Argentina national team following the World Cup final, Lionel Messi found himself at the center of a new wave of speculation. This time, it was not about his future, but that of his son Thiago. Within hours, social media had all but treated it as a fact that the Argentine captain’s eldest son would leave Inter Miami’s youth academy to travel to Europe and join La Masía, Barcelona’s youth system. But Leo himself took it upon himself to shut the story down immediately with a denial that was as brief as it was emphatic.

During Inter Miami’s arrival at Nu Stadium, where they made their Leagues Cup debut this Wednesday against Atlético San Luis with a first-half brace, the Argentine captain was approached by journalist Bruno Vain. There, laughing alongside Rodrigo De Paul, the reporter got straight to the point: “Is Thiaguito leaving?” he asked. Messi, apparently already aware of the rumors making the rounds, kept the relaxed tone and replied with a simple “no.” One word was enough to shut down a rumor that had even gone as far as claiming Thiago would supposedly arrive in Barcelona in November.

So Thiago, who is now 13 years old and has played in Inter Miami’s youth ranks since 2023, where he mainly operates as a midfielder, will continue his development in the United States alongside his family. Still, the speculation had not emerged by chance. Although there was never any official confirmation, several factors had fueled the theory for those drawn to speculation and supposed twists of fate.

The first was symbolic. Thiago is just three months away from reaching the same age at which Lionel left Rosario to settle in Catalonia and begin the journey that gave rise to the legend. The second had to do with regulations. In Spain, from the age of 14 onward, youth players are considered officially registered with the federation, a stage that often marks major decisions about young players’ sporting futures and that, according to the rumors, could have opened the door to a possible move to La Masía.

In addition, Thiago is no stranger to Barcelona’s setup. During his father’s time at the club, he went through the Barça Escola, where he took his first steps between 2016 and 2019, before moving to the United States after Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami, following a brief earlier spell in Paris Saint-Germain’s academy. That background, together with the strong bond the family still maintains with the Catalan city, ended up fueling a story that spread quickly despite having no official backing.

However, Messi’s word was enough to put an end to a story that lasted less than 24 hours. And once the matter was settled, Leo went back to expressing himself where he knows best: on the pitch. In his first start after the 2026 World Cup, he scored twice, provided an assist, and led Inter Miami’s comeback against Atlético San Luis to begin their Leagues Cup campaign with yet another decisive performance.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.