LALIGA
Why Barcelona believe PSG star Lionel Messi will choose a return to Camp Nou over a move to Saudi Arabia
Barça sporting vice president Rafael Yuste revealed his desperation for Messi to return to the club after the loss to Real Sociedad.
Barcelona sporting vice president Rafael Yuste, one of club president Joan Laporta’s right-hand men, was the first at the club to reveal they had been in contact with Lionel Messi and once again spoke about the Paris Saint-Germain star in an interview with DAZN after the LaLiga’s champions’ defeat to Real Sociedad.
Barça sporting vice president Yuste “wants Messi back”
“The fans chant his name, yes, and every time I speak I get myself into trouble. I want him back, that’s the truth. Because I’m a culé (a Barcelona fan) and because of what he has given to this club. He came through our academy, he started here and wonderful stories have to have a happy ending. He left and it still affects me. But I think if everything goes well - although it’s up to him, I hope he decides to return - we would all be very happy”.
Messi’s Saudi Arabian offer
Yuste’s comments appear to confirm that Barcelona have put the wheels in motion to re-sign the Argentina captain, whose contract at PSG ends on 30 June and who has an incredibly lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia on the table. Despite that, the Catalans are confident that they will be able to bring him back to Camp Nou. Last week, Laporta stated that he believed the club could compete with Saudi petrodollars because “Barça is Barça”.
When will LaLiga rule on Barcelona’s financial viability plan?
The clock, however, is ticking. If Barcelona want to add Messi to their ranks, they can’t afford a drawn-out saga similar to his departure in 2021. The steps they need to take are clear: get the green light from LaLiga on their financial viability plan, with a decision expected to be made on Monday, and make the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner a formal offer. Hopefully, for their sake, one he feels is too good to turn down.