"Forever a Blaugrana", "Always one of us" - Fans react as Lionel Messi spotted repping water bottle with Barcelona logo

Fans reacted after Lionel Messi was spotted carrying a water bottle with former club Barcelona's logo. The Argentine is widely considered Barca's greatest player of all time, having spent most of his career at the Camp Nou, between 2004 to 2021.

Lionel Messi's departure from the club came when he was forced to leave Spain to join Paris St-Germain as a free agent amid Barcelona's financial woes. The club were reportedly unable to renew his contract due to La Liga's financial fair play rules.

Fans recently spotted the Inter Miami forward carrying a black water bottle with Barcelona and the Argentina national team's logo on it. Culers found Messi's gesture heart-warming and took to X to reach to the viral images. One wrote:

"Look at what’s on the drink bottle of Leo Messi 🤧♥️ Forever a Blaugrana."

"Always one of us," another fan wrote.

"Once a blaugrana is always a blaugrana," another user added.

"Once a cule always a cule," a fan commented.

"So much love for the club," an individual said.

Fans continued to share heartwarming reactions, particularly for Messi's love for his former club.

"He loves Barcelona so much ❤️," a fan mentioned.

"I want him to be in atleast some capacity like mentor in barca just a glimpse of him in barca atmosphere enough 🥹," a user shared.

"You can’t take Barca out of him," a fan claimed.

"He has barca in his heart and still if u prop for him some plastics will tell you "u r just a messi fan, stick to inter miami," another fan opined.

Since his departure in 2021, Messi has expressed his love for his former club multiple times. He also wished to return to Barca in some capacity in the future to be able to bid goodbye to Culers like other Blaugrana legends.

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"My first thought was always to return home" - When Lionel Messi expressed his desire to return to Barcelona

Lionel Messi

In the summer of 2023, Lionel Messi was heavily linked to a return to Barcelona once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain had ended.

In an interview with France Football, Messi revealed that his priority was to return to Barca after being forced to leave in 2021. He explained (via MARCA):

"I could have returned to Barca, but it didn't happen. My first thought was always to return home, to be able to play at Barcelona again and retire there as I had always dreamed. But it wasn't possible."

The former Blaugrana legend revealed that he continues to support Barca and watch their games. At that time, Xavi was the head coach of the club. Messi said:

"I think the team has evolved well since Xavi's arrival, with a mix of young players of excellent level and experienced players like Lewandowski and Kounde".

Lionel Messi also said that he hopes to return to the city of Barcelona with his family after his professional football career is over. He revealed that he still considers the city his home and has his friends there.