Barcelona receive Messi transfer blow
FT Desk
- 14 Sept 2022 19:30 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona have received a blow in their attempts to bring Lionel Messi back to the club next year.
Messi’s contract at Parc des Princes expires at the end of the current season but, according to L’Equipe, PSG are working on a renewal.
PSG already possess an option to extend Messi’s deal by another year but L’Equipe write that they are confident of getting Messi to sign on for another two years.
Lionel Messi at PSG: Goals, assists, results & fixtures in 2022-23
That would extend his deal until 2025, at which point he would turn 38.
Messi completed a shock Free Transfer to PSG last summer after he was unable to sign a new contract with Barcelona.
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The Argentine legend broke virtually every record during over 20 years at Camp Nou, scoring an incredible 672 goals in 778 games.
But Barcelona were unable to sign him to a new deal – mainly for financial reasons - leading to an infamous farewell press conference in which Messi broke down and cried.
Ever since, Messi has been repeatedly linked with a return to Barcelona and both president Joan Laporta and manager Xavi have done little to play down talk of a return.
What did Xavi say about Messi return?
"I would like to think that Messi’s time at the club is not over, let alone the way it happened,” Xavi said in July.
"I think he deserves a second chance, or another chance, to show that he can leave the club well and that he has been the best player in history.
"From next year we will talk about it. But the question is whether I would like it, the answer is yes."
READ MORE: How much does Lionel Messi earn and what is the football legend’s net worth?
Messi endured a difficult first season in Paris, scoring just four Ligue 1 goals all campaign and performing poorly as PSG were dumped out of the Champions League – capitulating from 2-0 up on aggregate to lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in the last-16.
However, he has been in fine form so far this campaign, already registering three goals and seven assists, prompting PSG to look to renew his contract.
