Ansu Fati: I want Messi back at Barcelona
FT Desk
- 26 Jul 2022 14:50 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati has lent his voice to the growing calls for Lionel Messi to return to Camp Nou next summer.
The Argentine currently has one year left on his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, whom he joined from the Catalans on a free transfer in 2021.
He had previously spent his entire professional career with Barca, moving to Spain from Newell's Old Boys while just 13 years old.
In two decades at Camp Nou Messi made no fewer than 778 appearances and scored 672 goals, while his roll of honour with the club includes 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
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It is not surprising then that, even though the Rosario native will be 36 when his PSG deal expires, he has no shortage of admirers still at his former club - including Fati, who inherited his No. 10 shirt last season.
“Messi? Yes I would like him back. He deserves a better end in Barcelona, he is the best player in history,” Fati explained to TV3 in a recent interview.
Barca pine for Messi
President Joan Laporta has also been vocal on a possible move for Messi, admitting in recent press comments that he is "indebted" to the veteran star after failing to seal a contract renovation last summer prior to his PSG move.
Former team-mate and current coach at Camp Nou, Xavi, meanwhile, confirmed that he would jump at the chance to work with the Argentine again.
"I hope Messi's story with Barca has not ended yet," the coach stated, while warning that there was no chance of a transfer taking place in the short term.
"He is under contract now and it is impossible for him to come. It does not make sense to talk about Leo right now. It is not the time, but he is the best footballer in the world and of all time."
