As Dani Alves calls for Barcelona's "last dance," Lionel Messi says "it's time to return home."
Dani Alves, a Barcelona defender, has urged former teammate Lionel Messi to return to the club for a "last dance" together.
Messi has struggled to find his best form at Paris Saint-Germain since leaving Barcelona in a high-profile summer transfer last year. Since moving to Paris, the Argentine superstar has only scored three domestic goals in 21 appearances. Messi won a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or title in November, taking the 2021 award before finishing second to Robert Lewandowski in the 2021 FIFA Best Men's Player – but his form has dipped, which is not entirely surprising given he turns 35 this summer.
According to reports, Messi is dissatisfied in Paris because he has been unable to settle in the city and at the club for a variety of reasons. Alves was coach Xavi Hernandez's first signing at Camp Nou, and the right-back was one of a quartet of January arrivals who have transformed Xavi's Barcelona – the club has been undefeated in La Liga since early December. Following the signing of Alves, Barcelona completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City, followed by the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves, and finally the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Between 2008 and 2016, the two stars were teammates at the Catalan giants, where they won an eye-popping 23 trophies together – just shy of three per season. Upon his presentation at the club in November, Both the Brazilian and club president Joan Laporta discussed Messi's potential return to the club.
Former Barcelona star Luis Suarez also claimed that his close friend and former teammate Messi was having difficulty adjusting to life in Paris, fueling speculation about a return. Alves went on to say in January that Messi's absence from Barcelona was "strange," and that "it would be great if he could finish his career here (at Barca)."
"I don't know what he thinks or wants to do," Alves said in an interview with Catalan media outlet Diario Sport. He could return for a year with me for a 'last dance.' What's the harm? There is no better place to be than here. We cannot be better off than at Barça. He left and tried the experience. It’s time to return home if he wants.”
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