Barcelona have hope to recover from ‘mourning’ Messi
Karan Tejwani
- 8 Sept 2022 11:05 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona manager Xavi has spoken about Lionel Messi, amid links that his club will be looking to bring the Argentine back to the Camp Nou next summer.
Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 after his contract ran out and the club weren’t in a good financial position to renew his deal.
That forced Messi to sign for Paris Saint-Germain and he’s been at the club since, winning Ligue 1 last season with the aim of adding a Champions League success this season.
He is in the final year of his deal at the Parc des Princes, though, and there is some belief that Barcelona will be looking to bring him back to Catalonia in 2023 to give him a better end to his career.
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Xavi says it's too early to predict Messi's return
Xavi was asked about Messi’s future and the shadow he still casts over the club as he is still often talked about, despite leaving over a year ago.
The coach said: “The mourning for Messi's departure will never end, he's the best in history, everything he gave was extraordinary, unfortunately it's over and now there are other players called to make a difference.
He was then asked about Messi’s possible return, to which Xavi added: “It is early to predict anything, but we have generated hope.”
Barcelona have been busy in this transfer window, signing players such as Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and others as they generated funds through the activation of economic levers.
🗣 Carles Puyol on Lionel Messi potentially returning to FC Barcelona: "It is not too late for Messi to return. A contract ends, many things can happen. It depends on him, on Xavi, many things can happen." This via Mundo Deportivo. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/P5TO7ogpHY
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) September 6, 2022
Those levers were activated by the sale of shares in the club’s assets, as future profits go to buyers, giving Barcelona immediate cash, albeit with a risk in the long-run.
They’ll be hoping to have a successful season on the pitch to generate some more funds, and possibly fund a return for Messi, as they are seemingly adamant on wanting to give him the perfect ending to his career.
