Breaking: Xavi makes Lionel Messi final decision after talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, ahead of a return.
According to rumours in Spain, Xavi has urged Barcelona to arrange a dramatic comeback for club legend Lionel Messi next summer.
Following fruitful initial negotiations between all parties, Messi was anticipated to extend his contract with Barcelona last summer, but LaLiga’s financial rules prevented a deal from happening.
Then, in August, the Argentine international ended his 20-year relationship with the Catalan giants by signing a two-year contract with Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain, for whom he only managed six league goals in 2021–2022.
Xavi reportedly begged Barcelona president Joan Laporta to ensure Messi’s return, according to a report from SPORT. Messi confessed in May that he did not want to leave the “total happiness” of playing at Camp Nou.
According to the article, the ex-Barcelona and Spain midfielder still gets along well with the Argentine superstar and believes Messi’s return to the team could benefit it much both on and off the field.
According to the source, a return would be Messi’s final transfer, with the intention that he would hang up his boots at the club and end the hopes of MLS teams of having him play in America.
Despite his poor first season in France, Sportsmail understands PSG wants him to sign a one-year contract extension.
It is not surprising that PSG wants Messi to stay given that he brought in £600 million for them in his first season and assisted in the signing of 10 sponsorship deals.
The same source adds that Messi hasn’t made a decision as of yet because he’s focused on the next campaign and helping Argentina win the World Cup this winter in Qatar.
However, the news comes just a day after Laporta suggested Messi would visit Barcelona once more before he hangs up his boots.
Laporta told ESPN, “I don’t think Messi’s chapter at Barcelona is ended.”
I also think it is our duty to make sure the chapter is still open and hasn’t been closed.
“To take a minute to finish it the right way so he might have a far more glorious ending than what he got.”
If I believe that I owe him something, Yes.
Morally, I believe that I carried out my duties as president of Barcelona. I feel I owe him one, though, both personally and as the president of Barcelona.
