Barcelona finalising Lionel Messi contract offer

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 20 Apr 2023 08:02 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are finalising their contract offer to bring Lionel Messi back to the club from PSG, according to reports in Spain.

A free agent in the summer, Messi will be able to return to Camp Nou for nothing, yet Barca face a struggle to meet LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) requirements. The club has been told it must make €200 million worth of cuts by the end of June or face significant consequences, which could include a registration ban.

Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, has said that he wants to see Messi back in the country but has warned that in their current state, that is impossible for Barcelona.

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Nevertheless, Mundo Deportivo reports that the Catalan side are lining up an offer to present to the World Cup winner ahead of the summer.

The report states that only minor details need to be finalised before the contract is sent to LaLiga and Jorge Messi, the player’s father and agent, to study.

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Barcelona’s plan for Messi is that he returns to the club ideally for two years but potentially one. Over the course of a two-year stay, he would be able to make a return to Camp Nou, with the Blaugrana set to play at the Montjuic stadium next season as renovation work is carried out. Crucially, though, it would mean he was at the club as it celebrates its 125th anniversary.

This deal is being fuelled on the basis that Messi could raise the club’s income 25% in each season he plays.

What did Tebas say about Messi returning to Barcelona?

LaLiga is not optimistic that a deal will be feasible.

Speaking on Wednesday, Tebas explained: "Barca must take many financial measures to undertake Messi’s registration. They need lot of effort to make it happen. Today I don't see his signing as feasible. But there’s a lot of time left, Barca can still make moves to get Leo. We are still awaiting a feasibility plan from Barcelona. They need a big effort to make it happen."

Messi is both Barcelona’s leading scorer and appearance maker, having netted 672 times in 780 appearances for the club.