NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi’s father revealed on Monday that the Argentine forward is receptive to the idea of returning to his former club, Barcelona, after his recent departure from Paris St Germain.
Last year, Barcelona was compelled to let go of their talisman due to concerns about his high wages and the stringent financial regulations imposed by LaLiga, which could have posed a risk to the club’s future.
Having joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13, Messi went on to become the club’s leading goal scorer and appearance maker, amassing an impressive record of 672 goals in 778 games across all competitions. Following his departure, he joined PSG as a free agent, signing a two-year contract.
Barcelona’s finances have slightly improved since then, but according to LaLiga, they are still over the cap and remain unable to register new contracts signed months ago, including defender Ronald Araujo and midfielder Gavi.
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Last year, Barcelona was compelled to let go of their talisman due to concerns about his high wages and the stringent financial regulations imposed by LaLiga, which could have posed a risk to the club’s future.
Having joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13, Messi went on to become the club’s leading goal scorer and appearance maker, amassing an impressive record of 672 goals in 778 games across all competitions. Following his departure, he joined PSG as a free agent, signing a two-year contract.
Barcelona’s finances have slightly improved since then, but according to LaLiga, they are still over the cap and remain unable to register new contracts signed months ago, including defender Ronald Araujo and midfielder Gavi.
The LaLiga champions’ president Joan Laporta has often spoken of his desire to bring Messi back to Camp Nou, but any move for the 35-year-old would likely further complicate their ability to adhere to Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
“Leo wants to return to Barca and I would also like him to return. We are confident that Leo can come back,” Messi’s father Jorge said in an interview with Twitch channel Jijantes FC.
Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar and also boasts a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, won the Ligue 1 title in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons with PSG as well as the French Super Cup in July 2022.
However, he opted not to renew his deal with the Ligue 1 champions.
His future has been the subject of much speculation recently, with a source close to the Argentina captain telling Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal next season.
A move to Saudi Arabia would see him once again playing in the same league as rival and Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo, while Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is also expected to complete a move to the Middle Eastern nation.
The United States’ Major League Soccer club Inter Miami have also been touted as a possible destination for Messi.
(With Reuters Inputs)
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