Barcelona president Joan Laporta is extremely confident that Lionel Messi will make a return to the club in the summer transfer window.
Messi left Barca to join Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, but with his contract set to expire at the end of June, the possibility of a return is on the cards. The 35-year-old has been linked with MLS side Inter Miami, as well as a move to Saudi Arabia, while PSG could still extend his contract.
But the chance to add to his staggering tally of 672 goals, 778 appearances and 35 trophies and play under his former team-mate and friend Xavi Hernandez’s management is an enticing proposition. Laporta recently met with Messi’s father Jorge and is working hard to bring him back to Spain.
Asked by Cadena SER whether he was confident of signing Messi, Laporta replied simply: “Yes.” The Barca president addressed the media at length on Monday to defend the club after they were charged by prosecutors in Spain with corruption.
Barcelona paid €7.3million (£6.5m) between 2001 and 2018 to the company of Jose Mara Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spanish football's refereeing committee. They have been charged with allegations of corruption in sport, corruption in business, false administration and falsification of commercial documents, but insist everything was above board.
Barca claim the money changed hands in exchange for consultation on technical and refereeing issues, not as a way of trying to influence officials.
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The issue is dominating the headlines in Spain currently, but the suggestion of a return for Messi remains an important topic too. Messi has 20 goals and 18 assists in 35 appearances for PSG this season and remains an attractive proposition for Barca.
He did not want to leave Barca in August 2021 and only did so due to financial constraints. Barcelona’s difficulties in complying with financial fair play rules remain, but the club are hopeful of striking an agreement with Messi this time around.
Messi recently admitted that he hadn’t made up his mind on his future. Contract talks have been put on hold by PSG, while Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal are willing to pay him £369m-per-year.
“I don’t know what my future holds,” Messi said, “As I said at the beginning, it’s hard for me to imagine, to think about things that could happen but I really don’t know what my future will be and it will be whatever it has to be, whatever God wants it to be, will be.”
Xavi is keen to make it happen. He said recently : " I hope we see him come home. I'm the first person who would love to see the best player ever return. And it is normal that fans are excited about a 'Last Dance' like [with] Michael Jordan."
