Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge has met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta but no transfer proposal was offered by the Catalan club.
The Argentine superstar’s future at Paris Saint-Germain looks more uncertain than ever. Contract talks have been put on hold by the Ligue 1 giants with less than three months remaining of the 35-year-old’s deal.
Messi has netted 19 goals and provided 20 assists this season and has spoken of his happiness at adapting to life in France this term. It has marked a true return to form for a player who also memorably won the World Cup in December – but his future in Paris is not guaranteed.
The player was booed during the Ligue 1 defeat against Lyon earlier this month with an uneasy relationship between the player and the club’s fanbase. With PSG once again falling flat on the European stage this year, changes to their sporting project are expected this summer.
The Argentine’s uncertain future comes amid Barca transfer chiefs confirming contact had been made with Messi regarding a potential return to the Camp Nou. There is also an offer on the table for the Argentine superstar from Saudi Arabia.
Messi’s father, Jorge, travelled to the Saudi capital last month and while it has been claimed that this journey was for commercial reasons – the player is an ambassador for the nation’s tourist board – this trip could also have encompassed transfer talks.
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Jorge has also met with Barca president Laporta but as detailed by Cadena Ser, the situation is far from clear. The subject of their meeting was not a transfer return but a special match being played at Camp Nou to honour Messi once he decides to leave European football.
It is claimed that Messi’s camp have received information through third parties over Barca’s transfer interest, but no firm contact has been made on behalf of the club. Furthermore, the player has received a £369million-per-year deal from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal are observing a transfer ban but believe they will be in a position to sign players this summer. Such a move would pit Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle Eastern nation’s capital – reminiscent of their El Clasico rivalry at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively between 2009 and 2018.
Messi has been refusing to answer phone calls made on behalf of a negotiator close to Laporta. Meanwhile, the Barca president had planned to meet with his former star player during his visit to the Ballon d'Or awards in Paris in October, but such attempts were unsuccessful.
