Barcelona confirms talks with Lionel Messi over summer return
Barcelona Vice president Rafa Yuste confirmed that the club is in talks with Lionel Messi over the possibility of re-signing him.
The 35-year-old Messi left Barcelona in 2021 after his contract expired and joined Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal. Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season, and so far he has refused to accept their new offer.
Reports in recent months have suggested that Barcelona is open to resigning him, and now Vice president Rafa Yuste has revealed that they are in talks with Messi’s entourage over his return in the summer.
"I am still gutted he couldn't continue here,"
Yuste said at a news conference.
"Of course I would like him to come back, because of what he represents on a sporting, social and economic level.
"We are in contact with [Messi's camp], yes. Beautiful stories should have happy endings, and there is a mutual love between the two parties.”
Barcelona needs to reduce more than €150 million from their annual spending or raise money through transfers to be able to sign players and register contract renewals this summer.
"We still have two months to work hard to present our revenue and sustainability plan to [LaLiga president Javier] Tebas,"
Yuste added.
"I don't like to speak about Leo because he is a PSG player, but if all the conditions are met, we are open to the possibility. [Barca] president [Joan Laporta] has been with Leo's father, and there is a good relationship.
"Of course, there is no plan to go on the attack because we don't want PSG to see it like that. If it happens, it will be because destiny takes you back to where you have to go. If all the conditions come together and Leo comes back to Barcelona, it would be the perfect ending to a very happy story.”
PSG head coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday that the club will decide about Messi’s future.
"I know that Messi and the club [PSG] have been in negotiations for a while, but what Leo decides to do with his future is confidential and that is not for me to discuss, I am not the person to make the decision and the club will decide about Messi's future."
Barcelona is 12 points clear at the top of La Liga and will return to action against Elche this weekend.
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