Real Madrid Legend Insists Messi’s Return to Barcelona Is a “Step Backwards”

• Real Madrid icon Guti Haz has poured cold water on Lionel Messi's potential return to Barcelona
• Messi is out of contract this summer, fuelling reports of his potential return to Barca
• While rumours of Messi's potential return have sparked excitement among fans of the Catalan giants, there is no certainty that it will come to fruition

Lionel Messi's fairytale return to FC Barcelona has been described as a "step backwards" by legendary Real Madrid midfielder Guti Haz.

Guti, who has transitioned into coaching after calling time on his playing career, weighed in on the potential return of Lionel Messi to Catalonia.

According to SB Nation, there are swirling reports suggesting that Barcelona officials have had a meeting with La Liga officials to explore the option of bringing Messi - whose current contract with PSG runs out this summer - back to the club.

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Messi's return to Camp Nou would undoubtedly have sentimental importance, but Guti has busted those bubbles, suggesting that the 35-year-old will be a step in the wrong direction if he should retrace his steps to his old stomping grounds.

"I think for any Barca fan, it feels like a reunion. But I don't think it's good for them in sporting terms because it's a step backwards again," Guti told El Chiringuito, as quoted by Tribuna.

"The team would go back to depending on one player when you were putting together a new squad with new players and new faces.

Despite indicating Messi's return will stifle the growth made by Barcelona, Guti also considered the commercial prospects the Argentine playmaker brings to the Spanish top flight.

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"At the same time, it would be really good for La Liga", he explained.

Fans urge Messi to return

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s recent trip to Barcelona has got some of the club’s fans extremely excited, with some calling for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to return to Camp Nou, Sports Brief reported.

Recently, Barcelona fans have been chanting Messi’s name in their home games as a plea for the Argentine superstar to return to the club where he spent 17 successful seasons.

Some Barcelona fans have been videoed at the airport, passionately pleading for Messi to dump Paris Saint-Germain and make his fairy-tale return to Spain.

La Liga president's Messi-Barcelona update

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Lionel Messi's return to play for Barcelona next season will not be easy, according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.

Messi is out of contract at the end of the season, and while Paris Saint-Germain are still hopeful of retaining his services, Barcelona are not ruling out the chance of bringing Camp Nou’s favourite son home.

As reported by renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Tebas recently provided an update on the situation, admitting that it would be complicated.