For days, reports have suggested Lionel Messi could make a sensational move back to his boyhood club Barcelona.
Lionel Messi is yet to sign a contract extension with his current club Paris Saint Germain. His previous contract expires this summer. Messi and his camp did have a verbal agreement to continue in Paris but the Argentine had a change of heart after winning the World Cup last year.
It is said that Messi is closer to leaving PSG than continuing. The main reasons are the Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich, rumors of dressing room problems, and PSG facing possible UEFA sanctions for breaching their Financial Fair Play rules. The most likely destinations reportedly for Messi’s next clubs are Barcelona or Inter Miami.
Messi’s high wages make him one of the best-paid players in the world. Many clubs cannot afford his high salary. Barcelona, which has been in grave financial problems, is usually excluded from possible destinations.
So why are there rumors of Lionel Messi coming back?
But news from Fichajes.net suggests otherwise. They say that Gerard Romero, a famous Catalan journalist, talked about Messi’s arrival on his Jijantes Football Club Twitch channel. He said that both Barcelona and Messi’s representatives are in talks to agree on a deal to bring back one of Catalonia’s most beloved soccer stars.
Romero even has a video on the Twitter account of his channel showing Lionel Messi’s father and brother, Jorge Messi and Rodrigo Messi, arriving in the Catalan capital on Tuesday.
📸 IMAGEN @JijantesFC
— Jijantes FC (@JijantesFC) March 14, 2023
Jorge Messi regresa a Barcelona tras su viaje a Jeddah (Emiratos Arabes). Vuelve por primera vez tras su reunión con el presidente Laporta sin dar declaraciones a los medios. Lo hace acompañado de Rodrigo Messi. pic.twitter.com/IOtSlUBTzs
Barcelona has a debt of more than a billion euros, and even now, they are having problems with registering new players. If Messi is to come back, the club would need to make some big departures to fund Messi’s arrival. Supporters of the club no doubt would do anything to see their legend come back and embrace his return at the cost of anything. Laporta’s reputation would also become more positive.
The Barca president was painted as a villain after he was forced to let go of Messi in the summer of 2021. After this, Messi joined Paris Saint Germain on a two-year contract.
It remains to be seen what does happen, though it would be difficult for sure. And even if Barcelona doesn’t manage to get Messi, he has a contract waiting for him in Miami.
Where do you think Messi will play next season? Barcelona or Inter Miami? Or maybe he will stay at PSG? Let us know what you think in the comment box below!
