Lionel Messi is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires this summer and Barcelona president Joan Laporta is working to bring him back
Barcelona President Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta wants to bring Lionel Messi back to Barcelona
Barcelona president Joan Laporta is extremely confident that Lionel Messi will return to the club in the summer transfer window.
Messi left Barca to join Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, but with his contract expiring at the end of June, the possibility of a return is huge. The 35-year-old has been linked with MLS' Inter Miami, as well as a move to Saudi Arabia, while PSG could still extend his contract.
But the chance to add to his impressive 672 goals, 778 appearances and 35 trophies and play under the guidance of former team-mate and friend Xavi Hernandez is an attractive proposition. Laporta recently met Messi's father Jorge and is working to bring him back to Spain. When asked by Cadena SER if he had the confidence to sign Messi, Laporta replied simply:
"Correct." Barca's president spoke to the media on Monday in defense of the club after being accused of corruption by Spanish prosecutors.
Barcelona paid 7.3 million euros (£6.5 million) between 2001 and 2018 to the company of Jose Mara Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-chairman of Spain's football refereeing committee. They have been charged with sports bribery, business bribery, mismanagement and forging business documents, but insist everything is on the board.
Barca insists the money changed hands in exchange for advice on technical and refereeing issues, not as a way to try to influence officials.
Lionel Messi scored for Paris Saint-Germain in Nice on Saturday
Lionel Messi is in good form in the PSG shirt this season
YES SAY YOUR SAY! Where will Lionel Messi end this summer? Comment below.
The issue is currently in the spotlight in Spain, but the suggestion of Messi's return remains an important topic. Messi has 20 goals and 18 assists in 35 appearances for PSG this season and remains an attractive player for Barca.
He does not want to leave Barca in August 2021 and only does so when finances are tight. Barcelona's struggles to comply with Financial Fair Play rules persist, but the club are hoping to strike an agreement with Messi this time around. Messi recently admitted he has yet to make a decision about his future. Contract negotiations have been suspended by PSG, while Saudi club Al-Hilal are ready to pay him £369m a year.
"I don't know what my future will be," Messi said. “Like I said at the beginning, it's hard for me to imagine, think about what could happen, but I really don't know what my future will look like and how it will be, everything is God willing. To be.
Xavi really wants this to happen. He said recently:
"I hope we'll see him back home. I'm the first to want to see the best player back. And it's normal for fans to be as excited about a 'Last Dance' as [with] Michael Jordan."
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