Messi’s Barca return IMPOSSIBLE as Laporta fails to answer to key question

Robin Bairner

• 1 May 2023 09:25 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi’s return to Barcelona appears to be “impossible”, according to a report from Catalan newspaper Sport.

Messi is out of contract at PSG at the end of the season, with the World Cup winner having been strongly linked with a move back to Camp Nou, where he is the club’s all-time leading appearance maker, goal scorer and assist maker.

Previously, reports from Spain suggested that there was a strong chance of the 35-year-old moving back to Barcelona for a year or two in order to receive a proper send off from the club that he departed in tears during the summer of 2021.

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Messi left Barcelona because they were unable to finance his contract renewal, and it is economic reasons that will prevent him from returning to the club this summer, Sport reports.

Barca’s difficult position in terms of Financial Fair Play (FFP) is well known. They need to raise or cut €200 million in costs before the end of June in order to register new players, including Messi.

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The club had been in talks with LaLiga in order to find a solution that might allow them to bring the Argentina international star back to the league, but it is reported that there has been no deal agreed between them and the League.

Indeed, Sport states that the club, led by president Joan Laporta, has failed to find a solution to the FFP problem and is “very far” from what the league wants. Indeed, such is the distance between the two parties, it is stated that Messi’s return to the club now seems to be “impossible”.

Where will Messi play next season?

If Barcelona have indeed dropped out of the race for Messi, as seems probable, it leaves a major question hanging over his future.

PSG have reportedly been unhappy that the attacker’s entourage have asked for a pay rise next season, while the poor form of the Ligue 1 club puts a question mark over his continuation at the side, even if his link with Kylian Mbappe has been impressive.

Offers are also set to come from abroad, with MLS club Inter Miami and Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal ready to launch a monster bid for the player.

Newell's Old Boys have also been linked with a possible move for Messi, but the general understanding is that he still feels he wants to remain in Europe.