A year ago
Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague would be surprised if Lionel Messi joined Barcelona this summer.
Messi left Camp Nou to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, after financial problems at Barcelona prevented the club from offering the Argentina captain a contract extension in accordance with La Liga rules.
The 35-year-old's current contract with PSG expires in June and it's no secret that Barcelona want to bring him back on a free transfer.
But Barcelona's financial situation remains very sensitive.
According to Balague, Barca need to reduce their current salary bill by around 200 million euros to around 200 million euros to be able to offer new contracts to all players, including those already at the club. This will be a difficult and possibly time consuming process.
Balague tweeted on Monday morning:
"Messi's return to Barcelona is less and less likely. Let me think and I'll tell you why it seems impossible."
Later that day, Balague wrote in a column for BBC Sport:
"Can Messi return to Barca? He can, if he decides to take the step back, and he will provide all the means in the world for that to happen because he knows the situation. of the club. "However, we are currently in May and have yet to receive an offer from Barca. Also, La Liga 'don't know' whether Barcelona have come up with something in line with their Financial Fair Play laws or not. no. That she has to follow "letter to letter".
“All of this points to one thing:
Messi will not return to Barcelona."
He added:
"Messi's contract with PSG ends this summer and there is no move to extend his stay in France, Barcelona want him back.
"However, the dreams of most people at the club are colliding with harsh reality."
Barcelona are not the only team interested in signing Messi.
There is an offer on the table for him to extend his stay in Paris, while Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are also known for their admirers of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. Messi is a legend of Barcelona. He has made more appearances, 778, and scored more goals, 672, for Barca than any other player in the club's 123-year history.
Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague would be surprised if Lionel Messi joined Barcelona this summer.
Messi left Camp Nou to sign for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, after financial problems at Barcelona prevented the club from offering the Argentina captain a contract extension in accordance with La Liga rules.
The 35-year-old's current contract with PSG expires in June and it's no secret that Barcelona want to bring him back on a free transfer.
But Barcelona's financial situation remains very sensitive.
According to Balague, Barca need to reduce their current salary bill by around 200 million euros to around 200 million euros to be able to offer new contracts to all players, including those already at the club. This will be a difficult and possibly time consuming process.
Balague tweeted on Monday morning:
"Messi's return to Barcelona is less and less likely. Let me think and I'll tell you why it seems impossible."
Later that day, Balague wrote in a column for BBC Sport:
"Can Messi return to Barca? He can, if he decides to take the step back, and he will provide all the means in the world for that to happen because he knows the situation. of the club. "However, we are currently in May and have yet to receive an offer from Barca. Also, La Liga 'don't know' whether Barcelona have come up with something in line with their Financial Fair Play laws or not. no. That she has to follow "letter to letter".
“All of this points to one thing:
Messi will not return to Barcelona."
He added:
"Messi's contract with PSG ends this summer and there is no move to extend his stay in France, Barcelona want him back.
"However, the dreams of most people at the club are colliding with harsh reality."
Barcelona are not the only team interested in signing Messi.
There is an offer on the table for him to extend his stay in Paris, while Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are also known for their admirers of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. Messi is a legend of Barcelona. He has made more appearances, 778, and scored more goals, 672, for Barca than any other player in the club's 123-year history.
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