Could Messi return to Barcelona?

Speculation that Lionel Messi could return to Barcelona at the end of the season after the club’s vice president Eduard Romeu said that it was now financially possible.

The Argentine was forced to leave the club he had joined as a 13-year old in 2021, when the club decided that they could not afford to pay him according to the new contract they had just given him, because of their dire financial situation under the presidency of Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Embed from Getty Images

However, under his successor, Joan Laporta, Barcelona have returned to profitability, mainly thanks to the exercise of what have been described of economic levers – in essence selling a share of future television and commercial rights. They have also sold assets with a collective value of over £650m.

On leaving Spain he signed for PSG, but has yet to have a major impact there, and the Paris fans have only seen glimpses of the form that he displayed for so many years in La Liga. It is reported that he and his family do not like living in the French capital and yearn to return to Barcelona which they regard as their real home.

Messi will be out of contract with PSG next summer, and has yet to give a firm indication of what he intends to do then, insisting that, for the moment, his focus is on the World Cup with Argentina.
There have been suggestions that he might head to the US for several lucrative seasons with an MLS club, whilst the player himself has previously expressed a desire to have one season with the team that he played for as a boy, Newell’s Old Boys, before he retires.

One problem is that by the time he comes to sign his new contract, he will be 36 years old, and, inevitably, he has lost a yard of the pace that enabled him to burst past defenders. He still has got a great left foot, but, although still one of the best players in the world, he is past his best.

He is likely to be more injury prone now as well.

Whilst Romeu has spoken of giving Messi a “more beautiful ending” than the one he experienced first time round, a return would carry risks for both the player and the club.

For Messi, he could tarnish his legacy in Catalonia, where he remains a legend, and where thousands of shirts bearing his name are still sold very week. Barcelona fans expecting to see the player of old might become disgruntled at what he has become, and turn on him.

Meanwhile, his presence in the squad might force the manager Xavi to play him, and adopt the tactics around him, effectively restricting his attempts to rebuild the club’s fortunes on the pitch.

For all concerned it might be best if the Argentine does not return in a playing capacity, because it is always best to go out near the top. He has left the club’s supporters with some wonderful memories, and he has nothing left to prove there.

Fabrizio Romano about Messi’s situation

One more detail on Leo Messi's future. Messi and his camp have not received any official proposal yet, as talks won't take place now. ⚠️🇦🇷 #Messi

On Messi side, they know that PSG want to extend his contract and Barcelona want to bring him back – but nothing will be decided now. pic.twitter.com/g1SbCxLNTH

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 5, 2022