Laporta wants to bring Lionel Messi back to Barcelona

A report written on Friday by journalist Joan Domènech in Catalan newspaper El Periodico claims that there is a realistic chance that Lionel Messi will re-join Barcelona for the 2023-24 season and that Barça president Joan Laporta views the Argentinian’s return as a personal priority. The first step towards making it happen will be repairing the pair’s relationship, which broke down at the beginning of August 2021, when Messi decided to leave.

Barcelona finances “not a problem” in Lionel Messi deal

El Periodico underlines that, according to some sources, Barcelona still owe Messi €35m in arrears, but that this “would not be a problem” in negotiations, despite the fact that LaLiga are closely monitoring Barça’s activity. The club are hoping to get rid of high earners such as Jordi Alba and Gerard Piqué in June and are also waiting for the latter to make a decision on his future.

Barcelona and PSG fight for Messi

Barcelona will, however, face a fight with Messi’s current club, Paris Saint-Germain. Last night, it was announced on Cadena SER’s El Larguero program that PSG are set to offer Messi a new one-year deal valued at €30m, which is what the playmaker currently earns. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has already informed the Argentinian and his family of the club’s wishes.

Laporta, claim El Periodico, still feels “wounded” by Messi’s departure and is prepared to do whatever it takes to bring him back home to Barcelona. He also has Xavi’s approval and Domenèch has encouraged the Barça boss to “welcome Leo back into the dressing room and liberate him from the ill feeling that built up when he was captain.” The last step would be to find a role for him in the team and manage his playing time. The former, given Messi’s ability, would hardly be problematic. Everything, however, depends on that first step highlighted by El Periodico - Messi and Laporta have a bridge to build.