Busquets hopes Messi will return to Barcelona: "I miss him"

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets would hand the captain's armband back to Lionel Messi in a flash if the Argentinean star returned to Camp Nou.

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Messi left the Blaugranas in a sensational free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain last August, with a financially crippled Barça unable to fulfil the terms of a new contract that had been all but agreed. The 34-year-old is yet to hit the lofty heights in Ligue 1 that he reached for much of his astounding career, scoring just seven goals across all competitions for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

There has been speculation that Messi could leave PSG – who may also lose Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid – at the end of the season, and Barça head coach Xavi suggested the door will always be open for Messi's return.

Busquets misses old pal Messi

Former team-mate Busquets echoed Xavi's sentiments as he expressed his desire for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner to come back to Spain. "Of course I miss him. On the field and off it," Busquets said of Messi in an interview with Spanish radio station RAC1. "Nobody else has given us what he gave us. He made a huge difference. After so many years, it's normal to miss him. I'm sure he will miss me too."

He added: "At first it was difficult [when Messi left]. It was a shock for us too. We are still here, but imagine it for him; changing city, changing team, changing style. When you don't win, you're not happy. I wish him the best. I would like Leo to come back, but I know it's very difficult. He has a contract with another team and it's complicated because of how he left us. If Xavi told him that the doors are open, imagine me as his friend and team-mate. I would give him the armband. He always has my admiration and respect."