Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez talked up the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the club despite president Joan Laporta stating that such suggestions were in “bad taste.”
Messi is currently focused on Argentina and the World Cup. The forward helped secure victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side against a passive Mexico on Saturday evening as Argentina bounced back from their shock opening defeat against Saudi Arabia.
However, speculation over his club future continues to rumble on with reports claiming the superstar has agreed a deal to join MLS club Inter Miami at the end of the current season when his current contract at PSG expires.
Messi joined the French club on a two-year contract after Barcelona were unable to register a new contract for the playmaker due to their financial situation. That has led to speculation, not least from those within power at Barca, that the Argentine could return to the Camp Nou.
The Barca president has not stopped talking up the possibility of a sensational return for Messi to the Camp Nou, telling Sport earlier this month: "Leo knows that at Barca he always has his home.
"But let me not talk about Leo because he is a player for another team and we would enter again into a series of statements and counter-statements that would not benefit us at all. He has a valid contract with a European club. I can only say that Leo has been the best player in the history of Barca."
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However, Laporta struck a very different tone earlier this week when asked about Messi, following the report that he had an agreement to join Inter Miami. He insisted that Barcelona should no longer speak about the player.
"Leo is a player who will always be present at Barcelona," Laporta said on Monday, in quotes carried by Marca. "Barça is his home. I won't comment on any more topics related to him because he has a contract with PSG and talking about him would be bad taste. I won't go into any more topics on him."
Xavi did not follow Laporta’s advice and responded this week to a question of whether Messi would return to Barcelona: "If he wants to, then sure." The Barca boss was then asked if he would like to coach Messi and he replied: "Of course, who wouldn’t?"
