Xavi Offers Cold Response After Being Quizzed About Potential Lionel Messi Return to Barcelona

• Barcelona manager Xavi wants Lionel Messi to be left alone, after being questioned about the Argentine’s potential return to the Camp Nou next season
• Messi spent 21 years with Barcelona before leaving the Catalan giants last summer, following the club’s failure to extend his deal
• The 35-year-old penned a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain last summer but is expected to become a free agent again at the end of the season

Lionel Messi’s potential return to Barcelona has been the topic for several weeks in Spain, but Xavi is seemingly uninterested in the Argentine coming back to the Camp Nou.

Messi penned a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain last summer after ending his 21-year relationship with Barcelona following the club’s poor financial status.

With Messi apparently now back to his best following his superb performances for PSG this season, talks have now been reignited for a return to Barcelona. However, Xavi wants the 35-year-old to be left alone, Sportskeeda reports.

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"Leo's [possible return], let's see how it goes, but this is not the time to talk about Leo, we love him very much but we are not doing him a favor if we talk about it. We have to let him enjoy Paris now."

PSG are believed to be working to tie Messi down to a new contract at the Parc des Princes, although the two parties are yet to agree on a deal.

Barcelona, PSG and an MLS club make offers to Lionel Messi

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are set to battle it out with Barcelona and a Major League Soccer club for the signature of Lionel Messi next summer, SB Nation reports.

The Argentine is set to become a free agent at the end of the season when his current deal with the Ligue 1 champions expires, attracting interest from Barcelona and the MLS.

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Messi is said to be 100% focused on the pitch right now and will not make a decision regarding his future until the end of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Lionel Messi scores beautiful free kick for PSG

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi scored a wonderful free kick for the second game running on Saturday night.

Messi was in action against Nice in a French Ligue 1 match, when he curled in the set-piece just outside the penalty area.

The Argentinian started alongside Neymar and PSG's new signing Hugo Etikike in attack as Kylian Mbappe was given a rest by head coach Christophe Galtier.