- 10 hours ago
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona return CONFIRMED by Laporta with one-word answer
Robin Bairner
- 17 Apr 2023 07:40 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta appears to have confirmed Lionel Messi’s return to Camp Nou from PSG after two seasons in Ligue 1.
Rumours that Messi could re-join the club in the summer when his contract expires at Parc des Princes have built in recent weeks, despite the Catalan side’s financial problems that will force them into dramatic wage cuts in the summer.
Laporta has been content to fuel this speculation, which has seen Barcelona fans chant Messi’s name at Camp Nou in a plea to the club’s greatest ever player to make his return.
MORE: Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23
Following Sunday’s scoreless draw against Getafe in LaLiga, a result that saw Barcelona’s lead at the top of the league cut to 11 points, the president sent the Barcelona fanbase into raptures when he was quizzed by fans over the future of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
While taking selfies with a string of Cules, Laporta was fired questions and indicated that he is confident that the ‘Caso Negreira’ will finish in Barcelona’s favour. But he also dropped a one-word response when asked about Messi that has sparked excitement around the Catalan team.
“Messi to Barca?” he was asked by a supporter.
Laporta simply replied: “Yeah.”
Barcelona fans have taken this to mean that the World Cup winner will be heading back to the club in the summer, by which time he will be 36.
MORE: How Barcelona want to line up for 2023/24 – including Lionel Messi
‼️ ¿Y Negreira?
-Ahora, ahora verás.
🇦🇷 Messi, ¿al Barça?
-Sí.
💭 ¿Tranquilo para mañana?
-Y tanto.
👔 Las palabras del presidente del @FCBarcelona, @JoanLaportaFCB, antes de la rueda de prensa por el 'Caso Negreira' destapado por @la_ser pic.twitter.com/XllzzdqGV9— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) April 16, 2023
Messi at Barcelona
Messi is Barcelona’s record goal scorer, having netted 672 goals in all competitions, while he has also made more appearances for the club than any player in history, with 778 appearances under his belt from 2004-2021.
The Argentine played for the club at the height of their golden era under Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova and Luis Enrique, at which point Barcelona were considered the greatest club side in history. Messi was the jewel in the team. This is what Barca and Laporta are aiming to replicate by bringing him home.
