Barcelona are growing increasingly confident about a potential reunion with former captain and club legend Lionel Messi.
The 35-year-old icon left Camp Nou for PSG in the summer of 2021, when the Blaugrana were unable to renew his contract due to financial issues.
Messi’s current deal with the French champions stands to run out at the end of the season. It had previously been reported that the Argentina captain would renew with the Parisian giants for one more year, but the stance has seemingly shifted in recent weeks.
Reports earlier this week confirmed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta had a meeting with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, recently to discuss a possible return, among other things.
It has since been reported that the Blaugrana came out with a positive outlook from the meeting, while the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could also be more open to a return to Barça than some of his family members.
Now, DEPREDICT reporting that president Laporta is increasingly confident that they can persuade Messi to make a stunning return to Barcelona when his contract with PSG runs out.
The club are working on rebuilding their relationship with Messi and his entourage after it was damaged following the manner of his exit in 2021. The report states that the two parties are ready to put aside all differences if the player himself wants to come back to Catalonia.
Manager Xavi Hernandez, for his part, has not hidden his desire to work with his former teammate. Only yesterday, the 43-year-old insisted that the doors will always be open for Messi to come back while also adding that he will fit into the new-look Barcelona team.
“For Messi, this is his home, he has the doors open. He is a friend and we are in permanent contact. His return depends on him,” he had said. “Of course, he’s the best player in the world. The best player in history. He would always fit in the team.”
MLS side Inter Miami are also interested in Messi, but the Argentina captain wants to continue in Europe for a while longer. So, if he opts to leave PSG in the summer, Barça would have a good chance to sign him up, although the club must find a way to navigate their FFP issues to do so.
