Lionel Messi's return to Barcelona will end like Ronaldo at Man Utd

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 14 May 2023 20:54 BST
• 4 min read

Lionel Messi is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires in the summer.

After a trip to Saudi Arabia, the club punished the attacker with a two-week fine and ban from playing.

Messi leaving the Parc des Princes is much more than just rumours now. Naturally, he has a number of proposals on the table - one being a hefty, world-record-breaking offer from Saudi Arabia, the country that Messi is already a sponsor of for their 2030 World Cup bid.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Messi to Saudi Arabia NOT done as Barcelona remain hopeful

But there is also Barcelona, the club where Messi became a household name. During his time at the Nou Camp, Messi notched up 672 goals in 778 games - a simply breathtaking amount.

But would a return be the fairytale that some think it might be? Barcelona are struggling financially at the moment. They need to cut their wage bill significantly to be able to buy - and though Messi may be able to come on a free transfer, the wages will be a sticking point.

Speaking at a La Liga assembly, La Liga president Javie Tebas outlined the conditions for Messi to make a return, saying that Barcelona must make a ‘big effort.'

He said: "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 will be 36 years old in June, and though loved by the Barcelona fans, he does not represent a pragmatic move for a club that needs to push on into a new era.

Xavi, Messi’s former teammate has just won his first La Liga title with the club as coach. Finances aside, things are really now starting to move in the right direction for Barcelona.

Barcelona can learn from Man Utd's s mistakes

Any deal with Messi would strike similarities with Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United two summers ago. Revered by fans, and for good reason, Ronaldo enjoyed a decent first campaign, being at the forefront of Man Utd’s goals, but after that, he became one of the biggest thorns in the side of the club.

It ended in the ugliest circumstances, with the Red Devils sacking Ronaldo, and the player ultimately not being conducive to the type of blueprint that Erik ten Hag had laid out.

Of course, this is an extreme example, but Messi is a huge name and surely won’t be happy taking a backseat when needed, and if not next season, then certainly the following campaigns.

At PSG, Messi has already become headline news - his unsolicited promotional trip to Saudi Arabia led to an apology video. He recognised his mistake but it’s still unnecessary noise that the Ligue 1 club didn’t need.

Barcelona are on the up - if they can smooth over their issues over finances and their war of words with La Liga, the outcome would be very positive. They are looking at the likes of Vitor Roque and surely purchases like that make a lot more sense. Bringing Messi back might well appease their fans and offer the rest of us a nice fairytale of sorts - but Barcelona must not fall into the same mistakes which Man Utd made.