How Barcelona could line up with Lionel Messi

Stuart Telford

• 23 Mar 2023 10:41 CDT
• 4 min read

Lionel Messi has been linked with a sensational return to Barcelona. How would the Blaugrana look with the club legend bank in their ranks?

Messi left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 with the club unable to renew his contract whilst struggling with a debt that stood at €1.35 billion.

The Argentine has done well in Paris, plundering 18 goals and 17 assists this season as well as winning the World Cup with his nation in December, but he is yet to extend his stay beyond this summer.

READ: Lionel Messi 'seriously' considering Barcelona return

But with PSG out of the Champions League and Messi 36 in June, a return to his second home looks like an increasingly likely possibility. How would Barca look if he came back?

Barcelona with Messi Mk.II?

Barca coach and Messi's long-time teammate Xavi plays the traditional Barcelona 4-3-3 more often than not, and Messi would slot comfortably onto the right-hand side of the attack, from where he scored the majority of his record 672 goals in his first spell at the club.

He would likely have Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele for company in the final third, with the pair understood to be 'untouchable' even in light of La Liga telling Barca to reduce their debt by €200 million next summer.

READ: Barcelona ready to active €250m super lever to kickstart summer transfers

Raphinha, whose spot Messi would take, could well be cashed in on, with a return to the Premier League looking increasingly likely.

That gives Gavi and Pedri the room to thrive in midfield. There is speculation Messi may want to play deeper given his age, but with Barca bossing possession in many of their games, the need for Messi to press from the front isn't acute.

Anchoring that midfield will be Frenkie de Jong or Sergio Busquets, but almost certainly not both. With Busquets out of contract at the end of the campaign he is likely to be offered more money in following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia than by staying.

At the back, Barca are unlikely to fix something that is far from broken. Alejandro Balde is only 19 at left-back, Jules Kounde is a centre-back by trade on the opposite flank, but Barca have only conceded nine goals this season.