Lionel Messi wants Barcelona, claims Joan Laporta amid return to Camp Nou rumours

First Published | May 15, 2023, 3:07 PM IST

Lionel Messi might be pondering his club future. While he is reportedly moving out of Paris Saint-Germain, he has been linked to a Barcelona return. In contrast, the latter’s president Joan Laporta has confirmed talks about having him back.

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Argentine superstar Lionel Messi still determines his club future for the 2023-24 season. While he has apparently decided against triggering his one-year extension with French champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) or inking a new deal, he has yet again been heavily linked to a return to his boyhood club, the newly crowned Spanish champion Barcelona.

While it is no secret that Barca would love to have its boy back, the club needs to be financially stable right now to sanction his signing. Given La Liga’s strict Financial Fair Play (FFP) laws in place, the Catalan must significantly reduce its wage bill to be able to sign any player, let alone Messi.

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Meanwhile, Blaugrana president Joan Laporta has recently confirmed that the club is working tirelessly to find a solution to afford the Argentinian. Talking to TV3, he sounded, “I’ve spoken with Leo, and it was very nice. We have recovered the relationship. Messi wants Barça. He feels this club is his home.”

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Messi has also been linked to a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. However, Laporta asserted that while the Blue Waves have been doing a fine job investing in the club, Camp Nou is the FIFA World Cup winner’s home. “Barça is Barça. In Saudi Arabia, they are doing a good job investing, but I insist: Barça is his home,” he concluded.

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