Is Lionel Messi’s return to FC Barcelona feasible?

The Camp Nou recently chanted Messi’s name in their 4-0 defeat against eternal rivals Real Madrid in this week’s Copa del Rey semifinals, and while that can be interpreted in a lot of different ways, it is no coincidence that this happened when there are rumours of the legendary football star coming back to the Spanish giants. And that begs the question: Is it feasible for Lionel Messi to return to FC Barcelona?

🎶 ‘Messi, Messi’ chant at Camp Nou, minute 10 — another clear message to Leo from Barça fans. 🔵🔴✨

🎥 @juliclaramunt pic.twitter.com/eiWxjicdk7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2023

It is important to highlight that the Argentinian starlet has been having a torrid time recently with his current club, Paris Saint Germain. He signed for the French institution as a free agent in the summer of 2021 due to Barcelona having financial issues and not being able to give him a new contract, which led Messi to find a new club.

However, while his performances have been acceptable there, his relationship with PSG hasn’t been the best. Clash about his role with another star of the team, Kylian Mbappe, disagreements with the current manager, Christophe Galtier (Messi even left a training session due to disagreements with the way the coach was doing things), struggles in the UEFA Champions League and being jeered by the PSG supporters are but some of the reasons that the football legend is considering leaving the club.

Messi’s contract is up by the end of this season and there are no indications he is going to sign a one with the Parisian club. And while there are rumours of Saudi Arabia clubs eager to take him there, the prospect of coming back to the club of his life, FC Barcelona, is certainly enticing.

From Barcelona’s perspective, it is a lot more complicated. The financial issues that kept them from giving Messi a new contract back in 2021 are still there, albeit a bit more subdued. But signing Messi would mean a hefty amount in terms of a signing on fee and his weekly salary, which might something that Barcelona simply can’t afford, even if it is something that President Joan Laporta has mentioned that he would like to do.

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Then, there is the issue of how to fit Messi into the starting eleven. Even though his quality with the ball is still undisputed, the Argentinian is no longer as explosive as he once was and his work without the ball is pretty much non-existent, so it is very difficult to fit him without compromising the team’s structure and that is something that might not be the best thing for current manager Xavi Hernandez.

Bringing Messi back to Barcelona means a lot on so many different levels and the club would have to understand that a lot of sacrifices and compromises would have to be made to make this possible. From Messi’s part, after winning everything in the game and finally getting that World Cup winner medal, there is an understandable desire in wanting his story in football to end at the club that helped him become the superstar he is today.

🚨 Understand Al Hilal sent an official bid to Leo Messi: salary worth more than €400m/year.

◉ Leo’s absolute priority: continue in Europe.

◉ Barcelona, waiting on FFP to send bid and open talks.

◉ PSG bid, not accepted at this stage as Messi wanted sporting guarantees. pic.twitter.com/FVTDGs4eQV

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 4, 2023