The BIZARRE position Barcelona plan to play Messi next season

Carlo Garganese

• 9 Apr 2023 15:30 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi will not play in attack for Barcelona next season if he completes a free transfer this summer.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Messi will be fielded as a “fourth midfielder” rather than in his natural role in attack.

MD journalist Roger Torello claims that Messi will act as the fourth midfielder under Xavi in a similar way to how Gavi regularly does now.

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Robert Lewandowski would be the centre forward, with Ousmane Dembele or Rapinha as the right winger.

Messi would then play slightly to the left of midfield as a fourth midfielder. His position would be infield enough so that Alejandro Balde would have the whole wing open down the flank.

Torello adds that Messi will be expected to press and defend like the rest of his teammates in order to maintain balance.

Messi to Barcelona on the cards

It is now looking increasingly possible that Messi will secure a romantic return to Barcelona at the end of the season.

Messi’s contract at PSG expires at the end of the campaign and talks to renew the deal have ground to a halt.

It had been expected for much of the season that Messi would indeed pen a renewal. However, we are now in April and still Messi has not penned an extension.

The consensus among many sections of the media is that Messi is now more likely to leave PSG than stay.

There have been four main clubs fighting it out for Messi’s services next season.

They are signing a new contract at PSG, returning to Barcelona, joining Inter Miami or moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Hilal.

The offer on the table from Al-Hilal is believed to be a staggering €400 million per year.

But Messi is believed to be unwilling to leave Europe and is said to be very tempted with a return to Barca.

The Argentine legend broke virtually every record during over 20 years at Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.

Messi completed a shock Free Transfer to PSG in the summer of 2021 after he was unable to sign a new contract with Barcelona.