Lionel Messi: Possibility of Argentina star returning to Barcelona 'generates great excitement' says Xavi
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ByEurosport
Published 11/04/2023 at 10:13 GMT
Barcelona boss Xavi has been speaking about the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the La Liga club from Paris Saint-Germain. Messi left Barcelona for the Ligue 1 side in 2021 due to the Spanish club's financial difficulties, but his two-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain is due to expire this summer. Xavi says the idea of Messi returning to Barcelona "generates great excitement".
Messi back to Barca? Xavi on 'great excitement' at potential return
Barcelona boss Xavi admits a potential return of Lionel Messi to the club "generates great excitement" for their fans after their draw with Girona on Monday evening.
Fans inside the Nou Camp chanted Messi's name during the 10th minute of their goalless stalemate which sees Barcelona hold a 13-point lead over fierce rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga standings.
Last week, the Barcelona fans also chanted Messi's name during their heavy Copa del Rey semi-final second leg defeat to Real as speculation about the forward returning to the club continues to grow.
Xavi says Barca will see how negotiations with the Argentine will progress.
"I think the mood of the fans is really positive," Xavi said.
"They evaluate and appreciate the team's effort and the club's effort to be in this privileged position. But we need to achieve this title.
"About Leo, I think it generates great excitement. The fans have been chanting his name a couple of times. The fact that he could come back to the club generates a great deal of excitement.
"But we'll see how that goes. We just need to focus on the next coming games and winning La Liga."
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is out of contract this summer after signing a two-year deal for Paris Saint-Germain back in 2021 and is yet to sign a new deal with the Ligue 1 champions.
According to reports in Spain, the World Cup winner is waiting to be contacted by Barcelona president Joan Laporta before making a decision on his future.
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‘It would be like Michael Jordan’s Last Dance’ - Xavi open to Messi’s Barca return
Xavi, a former team-mate of Messi's at Barcelona, told reporters at the end of March that he hopes to see the Argentine return to his old club.
"l talk to him a lot because he is my friend," he said.
"We are dealing with the issue, but there is a lot to be done before it's ready. It depends on the financial fair play and on whether Leo himself wants to come back.
"Hopefully, we'll see him at his home again. It's the club of his life. I have seen Leo grow, I know him, I know the magnitude that he has as a footballer.
"Of course, there is this illusion with a possible 'Last Dance', like Michael Jordan's. It's nice."
Messi has won more major trophies with Barcelona (35) than any other player in the Catalan club's 123-year history.
At PSG he has scored 29 goals and contributed 31 assists in 67 appearances and in his maiden season in France he won the Ligue 1 title and the Trophee des Champions.
Jose Arronis from Eurosport Spain is not sure where Messi, who turns 36 in June, would be deployed in Barcelona's starting line-up should the club legend return.
“Certainly at this time it is very difficult to know what Leo Messi's future will be and whether he will return to Barcelona,” he said.
“Barcelona's economic situation is certainly un-ideal. Barcelona fans are delighted with a possible return of Messi because he is the most important player in their history. They also believe he is the key piece to them returning to being top.
“It is difficult to know what system Xavi would use in order to incorporate the Argentine, but Messi is not the same player as he was when he was younger - it is most likely that he would end up in an attacking midfield position that does not require much physical effort and allows him to exploit his skills.
"That could be as a traditional No. 10 or even as the most advanced player in a midfield three, a No.. 8.”
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