Barcelona President Joan Laporta Reveals Lionel Messi Is Always Welcome to Return to Camp Nou

Barcelona President Joan Laporta Reveals Lionel Messi Is Always Welcome to Return to Camp Nou

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:29 PM
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  • Joan Laporta has revealed the doors are always open for Lionel Messi to return to Barcelona
  • Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona with his current PSG contract set to expire in the summer
  • Messi spent 17 seasons as a Barcelona player before leaving the Catalans in 2021 to join PSG

Barcelona are not ruling out the possibility of re-signing Lionel Messi next season if the Argentine superstar decides not to renew his contract with Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi has put Barcelona on alert as the 35-year-old is yet to agree on a contract extension with PSG with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, La Liga, Joan Laporta, Spain
Lionel Messi is Barcelona's all-time top goalscorer, with a total of 672 goals. Photo by David Ramos
Source: Getty Images

According to Goal, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has now revealed that the doors are always open for Messi’s return to Camp Nou.

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“Leo knows we have him in our hearts. He is part of our shield. The legacy I found myself in when I became president was not good and I had to make a decision that I'm not satisfied with. I have to find a way to improve Messi's current relationship with Barca. We'll see, but he knows that the doors of Barca are open.”

Messi is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer, with 672 goals. The 2022 World Cup winner spent the majority of his career with Barcelona before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

PSG prepared to let Messi leave

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are ready to see Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Neymar all leave the club this summer as they gear up for a major summer rebuild, Eurosport reports.

Both Messi and Ramos are out of contract at the end of the season and the French club will let them move on, and would also be willing to listen to offers for Brazil forward Neymar.

Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona while Saudi Arabia’s top club Al-Hilal are eager to land both the Argentine and Ramos in the summer.

Messi wants clarity on PSG project

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Lionel Messi’s future at Paris Saint-Germain still remains uncertain with the Argentine’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has been negotiating a new deal with the Parisians, but talks between both parties appear to have stalled despite Messi being adamant to sign a new contract.

Transfer window specialist, Fabrizio Romano notes the Argentine veteran wants to understand how the PSG project will evolve in the summer before committing his future to the club.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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