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Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi told ESPN that it’s “unlikely” that his son will play for Barcelona again.
“I don’t think he will return [to Barcelona],” the elder Messi said. “The conditions are not there.”
He later left the door cracked open, however, saying, “I don’t know, life takes so many turns.”
This news comes as the 35-year-old Messi is in the middle of contract extension talks with Paris Saint-Germain after he joined the club in 2021. Messi’s Barcelona tenure ended on a sour note after the club parted ways with the soccer star due to financial problems.
His current deal with PSG is set to expire in June.
Jorge Messi met with PSG’s sporting director Luis Campos on Wednesday to discuss a new contract with the club, which reportedly could be a straight one-year extension or one year with an option for another.
PSG and Messi remain confident that a new deal will be agreed upon soon, but negotiations are still ongoing. If Messi does not re-sign with PSG, Inter Miami and Barcelona are both expected to be interested.
