Messi will NOT make Barcelona return, Laporta confirms
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 28 Mar 2022 23:52 BST
- 3 min read
Lionel Messi has been linked with a possible summer transfer to Barcelona less than a year after departing for Paris Saint-Germain, but Camp Nou president Joan Laporta has rejected this talk.
Messi left Barca in traumatic circumstances in 2021 when it became evident that the club were not in a position financially to renew his contract.
The Argentine hurried through a free transfer to PSG, but since moving to the Ligue 1 side all has not gone according to plan.
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Messi has struggled to find anything like his best form, scoring just a couple of league goals all season and being whistled by the PSG crowd for his part in the Champions League collapse against Real Madrid earlier this month.
All this has led to suggestions that he is not happy in France and that a switch back to Barcelona might somehow be rearranged.
While Laporta did say that he wants Messi back for the inauguration of the redeveloped Camp Nou, he also hinted that Barcelona’s fans have seen the last of him in a playing capacity in the blaugrana.
Speaking to RAC1, he said: “Options for Messi to return to Barca? I haven't received any message from him or from his entourage that he wants to return and now we don't think about it. We are building a new team, with young players and some experience ones.”
Barca’s new-look attack
Indeed, Barcelona have invested heavily in their offence, with their January transfer window built around adding to their attacking options. Ferran Torres arrived from Manchester City and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined on loan from Arsenal for 18 months. Meanwhile, Adama Traore was snapped up on loan from Wolves, though his stay at the club is likely to be cut short at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, Barca continue to be linked with attacking options, but the prospects of Messi re-joining appear slim.
