While rumors of Lionel Messi to Barcelona are going on, it may just be that the Argentine great may not return after all.
Messi has decided to quit PSG this summer, according to French outlet Foot Mercato (via PSG Talk). According to reports, Messi and his family have decided to leave the French city. They are unlikely to change their views. Their preferred club is thought to be Barcelona and the player himself decided it after Barcelona contacted him.
Lionel Messi, left Barcelona as the team’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearances leader in 2021 while under Laporta’s watch. He will become a free agent on June 30 and will be able to leave Paris Saint-Germain without any restrictions. PSG is also offering him a contract extension, but he will most likely reject it.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72240095/1252449637.0.jpg)
While Messi might have a few other European teams fighting for his signature, the way back to Barcelona is not fully apparent, considering the club’s fragile financial status.
Barcelona is now prepared to implement a squad-wide salary cut to permit the return of their great. The reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano disclosed that the Catalan giants are prepared to make compromises. This is in order to bring their best player back to Camp Nou. Barcelona was rumored to be ready to offer a deal directly to Messi’s camp in the following days. But there have been new developments in the saga.
Why can’t Lionel Messi return to Barcelona?
Barcelona and La Liga have yet to achieve an agreement on a “feasibility plan” that would make it possible for the club to bring back Lionel Messi. The Catalans have been talking to La Liga to discuss their budget and transfer intentions for the coming season. Barcelona must register new contracts for Ronald Araujo and Gavi, and they are also said to be interested in bringing in free agents Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan.
According to Diario Sport, Barcelona’s original feasibility plan has been rejected, and Fabrizio Romano claims there is still no agreement.
There’s still no green light from La Liga to Barcelona for Leo Messi’s return. Feeling of “very complicated” plan as president Tebas stated. 🔵🔴🇦🇷 #FCB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 1, 2023
Includes salaries to be reduced and also players to be registered including Inigo Martinez & Gavi.
🎥 https://t.co/Jyf6fgtnGX pic.twitter.com/y3Bv3mDD0Y
La Liga President Javier Tebas recently drew attention to Barcelona’s financial situation. He implied that it may be extremely tough for the club to arrange a deal for Messi at this moment. He was the one who rejected the initial feasibility plan provided by the club.
According to reports, Barcelona will need to cut 200 million euros from their huge wage bill of 600 million euros and will not be allowed to employ financial leverage like they did last summer.
Barcelona is unable to find answers to its existing financial condition owing to a lack of income-generating ideas, a stumbling block that began with the Covid pandemic but has still to be lifted three years later.
Club president Joan Laporta and director Matheu Alemany have promised to achieve their goal of bringing Messi back to Catalan colors and solving the financial crisis.
Barcelona currently leads the La Liga standings by 11 points after 32 games. But despite the club’s current struggles, they appear poised to claim their first league title since 2018–19.
Do you think that Messi could be back in the red and blue Jersey of Barcelona? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
