Barcelona president Joan Laporta says it is “unrealistic” that record goalscorer Lionel Messi will return to the club, but he wants to hold a tribute match.

Forward Messi, 37, made a surprise visit to the Nou Camp last week, saying he wants to come back, and “not just to say goodbye as a player”.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner left Barcelona for Paris St-Germain in 2021.

He moved to Inter Miami in 2023 and last month signed a new contract which runs until 2028.

Laporta said: “For me to make speculation that is unrealistic, nor do I think is fair, I believe that is not appropriate.”

Laporta said Messi’s time at Barcelona did not end the way he would have liked – his contract was not extended against a backdrop of financial issues at the club.

But Laporta said he hopes to stage a match once the Nou Camp reopens after renovation.

“It would be right that he has the best tribute in the world, and it would be wonderful to have it here, in front of 105,000 fans,” he said.

Messi scored 672 goals in a record 778 games for Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and the Champions League four times among other honours.

Wolves have appointed Rob Edwards as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract following the sacking of Vitor Pereira.

Edwards has left Championship side Middlesbrough, who he joined as head coach in June, to take over at Molineux.

Wolves dismissed Pereira on 2 November and, after initially having an approach to speak to Edwards rejected by Boro, they were granted permission to speak to the 42-year-old last week as the two clubs agreed a compensation deal.

Edwards, who previously managed Luton Town in the Premier League, played 111 times for Wolves between 2004 and 2008.

Edwards leaves Middlesbrough second in the Championship table, five points behind leaders Coventry City.

Wolves, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the top-flight table after a poor start to the season in which they have picked up just two points from their opening 11 league games.

Edwards will be joined at Wolves by Harry Watling, who takes on the role of assistant head coach and was part of his team at the Riverside Stadium.

Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi said Edwards had shown “tactical awareness” when he was a youth coach at the club.

“After he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership,” Shi added.

“[Rob’s] a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented.”

The Super Eagles’ camp officially opened on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, with the arrival of 10 players, as Nigeria begin final preparations for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF playoffs.

The first batch of players and team officials arrived at the Rive Hotel, Rabat, on Sunday afternoon, signaling the start of what could be a decisive week in Nigeria’s campaign to return to the world’s biggest football stage.

Promise Efoghe, the team’s media officer said that early arrivals included the trio of Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, as well as Tolu Arokodare and Olakunle Olusegun.

“Later on Sunday, three more players – Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, and William Troost-Ekong—joined up with the squad, bringing the number of players in camp to eight.

“By nightfall, Benjamin Fredericks and Chidozie Awaziem also checked in, raising the total number of players in camp to 10 as preparations gathered pace,” he said.

Coach Eric Chelle on Saturday finalised his 24-man squad for the playoffs as he named a strong roster of Europe-based stars and local standouts for the decisive fixtures in Rabat.

The Super Eagles face Gabon in the first playoff match on Thursday. A win would send them into the African playoff final against either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo on Nov. 16, also in the Moroccan capital.

The playoff round provides African teams with an additional route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, the winner of this series must still overcome opponents from other continents in a final intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico.

Chelle’s squad features several changes from last month’s qualifiers, where Nigeria recorded victories over Lesotho and Benin to climb to second place behind South Africa in their qualifying group.

The crucial victories earned the Super Eagles a playoff slot as one of the four best runners-up across the nine African groups.

Among the returnees is Maduka Okoye of Udinese, back to provide competition in goal, while Awaziem also returns in defence.

Midfielder Raphael Onyedika and forward Chidera have been recalled to add depth and creativity.

Players omitted from last month’s roster include Felix Agu, Terem Moffi, and Christantus Uche.

Nigeria, the highest-ranked of the four teams in this playoff round, are widely seen as favorites to progress — but coach Chelle has cautioned against complacency, stressing the need for discipline and tactical precision.

Nigeria Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)

Forwards: Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France).