Barcelona president Joan Laporta responds strongly to Lionel Messi's return demands.
Lionel Messi is certain to leave PSG when his contract expires this summer, and Barcelona president Joan Laporta is trying hard to get him back.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes Lionel Messi will return to the club during the summer transfer window.
Messi left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain two years ago, but with his contract set to expire at the end of June, a return is possible. The 35-year-old has been linked with MLS side Inter Miami as well as a move to Saudi Arabia, but PSG could yet offer him a contract extension.
The opportunity to add to his amazing aggregate of 672 goals, 778 appearances, and 35 titles while playing under the supervision of his old teammate and buddy Xavi Hernandez is an appealing proposal. Laporta recently met with Messi's father, Jorge, and is working hard to re-unite the family.
When asked if he was confident in signing Messi, Laporta simply said, "Yes." Barcelona's president spoke to the media at length on Monday to defend the club after prosecutors in Spain accused them with corruption.
Between 2001 and 2018, Barcelona paid €7.3 million (£6.5 million) to the company of Jose Mara Enriquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spanish football's referees committee. They have been charged with claims of sports corruption, business corruption, false administration, and fabrication of commercial records, but they insist everything was legal.
Barca claims the money was exchanged in exchange for technical and refereeing advice, not to try to influence officials.
The subject is currently dominating the headlines in Spain, but the possibility of Messi returning remains an important topic as well. Messi has 20 goals and 18 assists in 35 PSG games this season and remains an appealing option for Barcelona.
He had no desire to leave Barcelona in August 2021 and only agreed to do so owing to financial restrictions. Barcelona's challenges in complying with financial fair play standards persist, but the club is optimistic about reaching an arrangement with Messi this time.
Messi recently confessed that he was undecided about his future. PSG has put contract talks on hold, while Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal is offering to pay him £369 million per year.
"I don't know what the future of me holds," Messi stated. "As I said at the beginning, it's hard for me to imagine, to imagine the things that could happen, but I really don't know what my future will be, and it will be whatever it has to be, whatever God wants it to be."
Xavi is eager to see it happen. He recently stated, "I hope to see him return." I'm not the only one that wishes to see the best player back. It's natural for fans to be thrilled about a 'Last Dance' like [with] Michael Jordan."
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