Messi AND Neymar in SHOCK summer returns to Barcelona

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 5 Mar 2025 11:52 GMT
3 min read

Neymar, Lionel Messi, Barcelona — © IMAGO

Both Lionel Messi AND Neymar could return to Barcelona this summer in a shock double deal.

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That is according to Helena Condis, who reports that Neymar is determined to return to Barcelona and is willing to take a pay cut in order to make it happen.

Neymar, now 33, is currently back at his first club Santos, returning there last month after his contract at Al-Hilal was terminated in January.

The Brazilian had endured a disastrous 18 months in Saudi Arabia after arriving there from PSG in the summer of 2023. He barely played due to injury, prompting the Saudis to cut their losses.

Now Condis reports that a Neymar return to Barcelona after eight years away is very much a possibility.

And Neymar could join Messi in what would be a sensational reunion at Camp Nou.

According to multiple reports in recent weeks, Messi is ready to make a shock return to Barcelona, with the Spanish giants working hard on the return of the Argentine.

Messi departed Barcelona in the summer of 2021 amidst a flood of tears, moving on a free transfer to PSG as it became evident that the Camp Nou club could no longer afford him.

After two years at PSG he moved to Inter Miami in 2023.

Now Messi, at the age of 37, is desperate to return to Barcelona, with the Catalan club seeking to complete a stunning deal that could see the Inter Miami attacker return for the opening of the renovated Camp Nou.

Barcelona are said to be willing to sacrifice three current first-team stars in order for Messi to re-join the club: Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.

This trio of players have already been touted for sales and are required to free up space on the payroll and also generate the income needed to bring Messi back.

The Argentine clearly wants to return, but Inter Miami are naturally reticent to give up their main attraction even via a loan. It is claimed that if they are to agree to Messi’s dream deal, they want him to extend until 2027 in return.

Whether or not Barcelona will be able to afford both Messi and Neymar remains to be seen given the club’s well-publicised financial problems in recent years.

It is also questionable whether signing a 33-year-old Neymar and 38-year-old Messi is the direction the club should be going.

Messi will be 38 by the time next season starts, yet Barca believe that he is still operating at a level that will allow him to make the difference for them on the field.

He has scored 36 goals in 42 matches with Inter Miami and has generated 20 assists in that time while he leads Barcelona all-time in goals, assists and appearances.

Together, Messi and Neymar won multiple titles with Barcelona - including a famous treble in 2015.