BREAKING: Barcelona and Lionel Messi have already begun contract negotiations for the club legend to return to the Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi and Barcelona have begun contract talks in the hopes that he would make a dramatic comeback to the team in 2023.
Catalunya Radio broke the news immediately on Sunday night after Barcelona defeated Pumas UNAM 6-0 in the Joan Gamper Trophy match.
Discussions with Messi’s agents, led by his father and agent Jorge Messi, have already begun, according to the station’s El Club de la Mitjanit program.
Currently, Messi’s deal with Paris Saint-Germain will end in June 2023. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner does have the option, though, to extend his contract by a further 12 months.
According to rumors, Messi may be tempted to finish his illustrious career in Barcelona, where he first established his name, by moving back there.
Messi enrolled in the club’s renowned La Masia academy when he was still a teenager.
Laporta’s remarks that he owed Messi a “moral due” for the way that he left the Catalan club last summer contributed to the rumors tying him to a return to the team.
Laporta was questioned about Messi’s transfer to PSG while on the phone with CBS Sports.
“I did what I had to do to put the organization above the greatest player in history,” he stated. Messi and I go way back, and I adore Leo.
“I owe the greatest player in history a moral debt. I’ll do everything in my power to give Messi the finest possible finish to his time with Barcelona.
“I’m interested in doing it. Although it won’t be simple, I believe that if we use the right plan, we can succeed. We will use every effort to ensure that Messi finishes his career with Barcelona.
Laporta was also questioned about when the talks will begin.
This is a thought we have, he retorted. Since he is a PSG player and still has one year left on his contract, now is not the greatest time to discuss it. It demands our respect.
Meanwhile, Messi and the Parc des Princes team are off to a strong start in Ligue 1. The Argentina international, who assisted once and scored twice, including a spectacular overhead kick on one of his goals, was the star of the 5-0 victory over Clermont Foot.