Xavi has been quick not to rule out the future possibility of Lionel Messi’s Barcelona return, but the manager made it clear that this is not something the club can achieve in this transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano has given this latest update on what Barcelona coach Xavi had to say about the superstar.
Xavi Does Not Rule Out Lionel Messi’s Barcelona Return Entirely
Messi’s Barcelona Story Is Not Over Yet
Barcelona boss Xavi said: “[It] Makes no sense to speak about Leo Messi’s comeback at Barcelona right now, he’s under contract with PSG so it’s impossible. We’ll see in the future.”
Messi is under contract at Paris Saint-Germain until next summer. There are rumours over his future, but the Argentine will not make any decisions until after the World Cup.
It is clear that Messi and Barcelona will always have a special connection. Club President Joan Laporta has also expressed his wish for Messi to return in some capacity.
Xavi said: “Laporta had already said he hoped it was not yet the end for Messi at Barça.”
Xavi: “Makes no sense to speak about Leo Messi’s comeback at Barcelona right now, he’s under contract with PSG so it’s impossible. We’ll see in the future”. 🚨🇦🇷 #FCB @HelenaCondis
“Laporta had already said he hoped it was not yet the end for Messi at Barça”, Xavi added. pic.twitter.com/9U0FQ9FxGX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 26, 2022
Messi at Paris Saint-Germain
It took a while for Messi to get up and running in Ligue 1 but he is showing signs of a return to form this pre-season in Japan. His PSG record is already quite impressive, with a combined 26 goals and assists across 34 appearances. Five of those goals have come in 7 crucial Champions League appearances. His goalscoring and playmaking played a key part in helping his club lift their 10th ever Ligue 1 title. Sadly he could not stop his team from getting dumped out of the Champions League in the round of 16 against Real Madrid.
Messi is a serial winner on a big scale. With seven Ballon D’Ors, 22 top scorer accolades, 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League winners medals (to name just a few), the Argentine is truly second to none. Cristiano Ronaldo might have something to say about that, but Messi is still kicking on at the top levels with PSG while his rival Ronaldo tries to reignite his twilight career by escaping Manchester United.
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Pointless comparisons aside (they’re both legendary players), Messi perhaps still has a point to prove at PSG unlike at Barcelona. Crucially the player wants to win something he wasn’t won before. This is partly why he wants to totally focus on what is likely to be his last World Cup as a player this winter. Argentina have recently won the Copa America with Messi, but now the country will rally around him to try and win their first World Cup since 1986 and their third World Cup overall. This would draw Argentina level with West Germany/Germany and put themselves into the history books as a footballing nation, with Messi at the heart of La Albiceleste.
