Lionel Messi wants to return to Barcelona, confirms his father; fans await homecoming after PSG exit

By Sunita Iyer | First Published Jun 5, 2023, 5:35 PM IST

Two days after Lionel Messi played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the Argentine's father on Monday confirmed that the legendary forward wants to return to Barcelona.

In what has sparked massive excitement among Barcelona fans, legendary forward Lionel Messi's father on Monday confirmed that the 36-year-old icon wants to return to the Catalan club this summer. Jorge Messi, the Argentine's father and agent, told journalist Toni Juanmartí that the seven-time Ballon d'Or is keen to return to Camp Nou, two days after he played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after a two-year stint at Parc des Princes.

Also read: It's Barcelona vs Al-Hilal vs Inter Miami for Lionel Messi: Race heats up to sign Argentine after PSG exit

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“Leo wants to return to Barça and I would love for him to come back. It is an option,” Messi's father told journalist Toni Juanmartí on Monday. The quote emerged after the same journalist shared a video of Messi senior arriving for talks with Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

🚨 Jorge Messi after meeting Barcelona president Laporta: “Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I’d love to see him back to Barça”.

“Barça move is an option for sure”, Jorge Messi added — via . pic.twitter.com/UwIrMX4GSz

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)

🚨 Jorge Messi and Barcelona president Joan Laporta — meeting now to discuss Leo’s return after La Liga approved the plan.

More to follow on the Messi saga, key hours and days ahead.

🧨🎥 Exclusive video by pic.twitter.com/Fshgi2xX8f

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano)

Although Messi's departure from Paris Saint-Germain has already been announced, his next destination has not yet been selected. The Argentine has been linked with both a return to Barcelona and move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal and MLS side Inter Miami.

According to earlier reports on Monday, LaLiga had finally approved Barcelona's "feasibility plan" for the summer, a strategy for safeguarding and planning the club's financial future, giving the club the go-ahead to sign new contracts.

With that, Messi's return is now actually feasible.

Also read: Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad: Cristiano Ronaldo fans welcome Real Madrid icon to Saudi Arabia with memes

Meanwhile, Messi and Barcelona fans took to Twitter to express their joy over the news of the Argentine's wish to return to his former club. Here's a look at some of the reactions on Twitter:

Come on babyy https://t.co/yMysFEGN1K pic.twitter.com/aweD4Q7yjk

— blank (@chandler7288)

⏳💙❤️🐐 https://t.co/yCp0nRhIUG pic.twitter.com/Uevbouv4uA

— Ajmal Khan (@Ajmalmsd7)

ITS HAPPENING https://t.co/g4kuny9H9a pic.twitter.com/PyqI259Eah

— Megan (@M3gzn)

Coming back King 👑 https://t.co/PM4lJh5tO1

— Linggo Prabowo (@LinggoPrabowo)

Ayeeee💃🏽🤩 He's coming back home🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀 https://t.co/yNVKfFq0sJ

— Ricayo (@ricayo22)

One last dance..🙌🏻❤️ https://t.co/2mS0VotC7t

— Aaabid (@muhamma4bid)