Barça does not intend to let go of the case as for a return to the club of its ultimate icon Lionel Messi. In the wake of its 27th Spanish league title, thanks to its derby won Sunday against Espanyol (2-4), the Catalan club has returned to this subject that has obsessed all of Catalonia or almost in recent weeks. The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, assures this Monday that he spoke to the player to overcome his stormy departure from Barça in 2021, when he joined Paris Saint-Germain free.

"I spoke to Leo to reorient a situation that occurred, where I had to put the institution first, even him, who is the best player in the world," Joan Laporta told Catalan public broadcaster TV3. "The truth is that it was a very affectionate, very pleasant conversation, and we have also been sending each other messages lately," the Catalan leader continued, assuring that "there is a relationship" with the player. Will that be enough to allow the 35-year-old Argentine star to join his historic club, after two mixed seasons at PSG?


"We can compete with everyone"

"We will do everything possible" to bring Lionel Messi back to Barça, Joan Laporta told Jijantes on Monday. "He is a Paris Saint-Germain player [free at the end of June] and what we will do is improve the team in all areas, we have already worked on that," the Barcelona president told TV3, avoiding talking about the possible financial concessions that the Pulga would have to make to return to Catalonia.

As Joan Laporta recalled, "the club is on an austerity plan". He is still waiting for the Spanish Football League to approve a viability plan, and he needs to save €200 million on his payroll to be allowed to sign this summer. While his future is clearly no longer on the side of PSG, Lionel Messi would have received a salary offer of 500 million euros per year from the Saudi club Al-Hilal. "With all due respect to Saudi Arabia, Barça is Barça, and this is their home," said Joan Laporta. "We can compete with everyone," concluded the president of FC Barcelona regarding the recruitment of the Argentine world champion.

  • Football
  • Sport
  • FC Barcelona
  • Lionel Messi
  • Liga
  • Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG)
  • Mercato