Watch: Fabrizio Romano gives us latest on Lionel Messi’s Barcelona return
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has updated us with the latest on Lionel Messi’s potential romantic return to Barcelona next summer.
Messi bid a tearful farewell to Barcelona last summer amid their financial difficulties. He left on a free transfer for PSG and helped the club reclaim the Ligue 1 title last season, although he took time to acclimatise and was far from his brilliant best.
However, so far this season he’s looked back to the peak of his powers and is combining wonderfully with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as the Parisiens blow away the opposition in the French top flight.
The Argentinian is now into the last year of his two-year deal in Paris and will be free to leave the Parc des Princes next summer. He’s refused to comment on his future, stressing that his focus is on this season with PSG and the upcoming winter World Cup in Qatar.
But the Barcelona hierarchy have made it clear they want the icon to return to the Camp Nou and see out the final years of his playing career back at his rightful home.
“I did what I had to do in order to put the institution above the best player in our history,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta told CBS Sports back in August. “I have known Messi since he was a kid and I love Leo, Barca love Leo.
“It’s true I feel in moral debt to the best player in our history and I will do my best in order to ensure Messi can have the best ending of his career with a Barca shirt.
“I would like to do it. It will not be easy but I think that with the correct strategy we could do it and we will do our best in order to have Messi ending his career at Barcelona and being applauded by everyone.”
The saga took another twist yesterday when Argentinian journalist Veronica Brunati, who is said to be close to Messi and his entourage, tweeted that the player will return to Barcelona on July 1st, 2023.
But what does Romano think about the potential deal?
The Italian reporter has posted a new video on 433’s Twitter page discussing his own knowledge of a potential deal.
“As we’ve heard many rumours of Leo Messi returning to Barcelona in the summer of 2023,” Romano began.
“What I can tell you from speaking to sources close to Leo Messi at the moment is that there is still nothing agreed with any club. Not with Barcelona – still no official bid – what is true is that Barcelona are dreaming of Leo Messi’s return, they are discussing it internally, but there is still no official bid to Leo Messi.
“Also, nothing agreed with Paris Saint-Germain. They are loving Leo Messi’s impact, especially in this second season. They want to extend his contract, but at the moment at this stage still nothing advanced.
“Why? Because Leo Messi wants to focus on the World Cup with Argentina, wants to focus on Paris Saint-Germain this season and win the Champions League, then decide what he wants to do in 2023.
“Barcelona are dreaming of Messi. PSG want to keep him. But at the moment, still nothing.”
An update from @FabrizioRomano after 🇦🇷 sources drop a bombshell on Messi returning to Barça 📲 pic.twitter.com/bggeAaKgOP
— 433 (@433) October 4, 2022
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