A year ago
Despite the apparent negative effects of one of the best players in history joining Real Madrid's toughest rival, Lionel Messi's return to Barcelona this summer has been acknowledged by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as something he would be glad to see.
After two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi's contract is about to expire, putting the 35-year-old at a new professional crossroads.
In addition to PSG's acceptance of a new contract with Messi, 90min revealed earlier this month that Barcelona's public confidence in clinching a reunion is doubtful. It is now more likely that he will go back to Camp Nou, where he lived for 21 years, until the summer of 2021.
Messi has spent time in the city over the past several days and is scheduled to hold discussions with Barcelona. On Monday, he was seen out to dinner with former colleagues Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
Messi will surely strengthen Barcelona, which is already expected to win La Liga this season ahead of Real Madrid, even though he will turn 36 in June. However, Ancelotti claims it won't affect Spanish football as a whole because Messi would bring more attention back to La Liga.
Messi and Barcelona are both free to do what they please. For me, it's not a concern," the Real coach stated. He is a player I like. The addition of him could be beneficial for Spanish football. But Messi and Barcelona should handle that.
Due to his dissatisfaction with way the club was being governed by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, Messi famously wanted to quit Barcelona in 2020. By 2021, though, he was content to remain and had even agreed to a new deal that might last until 2026.
But those spending restrictions, which have plagued Barcelona in recent seasons as a result of the dire status of the club finances, prevented the deal from being registered. Messi was forced to go and chose to sign a two-year contract with PSG as a free agent.
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