Transfer Centre

Lionel Messi father plays down chances of Barcelona return

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 17 February 2023

The father and agent of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi all but rules out the possibility of his son returning to Barcelona as a player.

The father of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi has all but ruled out the possibility of his son returning to Barcelona in a playing capacity.

The 35-year-old was forced to bid his farewell to the Blaugrana faithful in 2021, with the club's financial crisis making it impossible to retain his services.

Messi subsequently joined French champions PSG on a two-year deal with the option of a third, but he struggled to adapt to life in Ligue 1 during his debut season.

However, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has hit his usual lofty heights in the 2022-23 season, while also winning the World Cup and collecting the Golden Ball as the Player of the Tournament.

Since leading Argentina to World Cup glory, speculation surrounding Messi's future has intensified, as he will be able to leave PSG on a free transfer at the end of the season as things stand.

Lionel Messi in action for Paris Saint-Germain on November 2, 2022 © Reuters

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is fighting tooth and nail to agree a new deal with the attacker, but he is said to be increasingly uncertain about putting pen to paper on fresh terms.

A sensational return to Barcelona has been mooted for several months now, but Jorge Messi does not expect his son to represent the Blaugrana as a player again.

"I don't think Leo will play for Barca again. The conditions are not met. We have not spoken with [Joan] Laporta and there is no offer," Jorge Messi told Sport.

Despite Jorge Messi's comments, Barcelona are still said to be attentive to developments surrounding the attacker's future, with president Joan Laporta frequently talking up the possibility of bringing Messi back to Catalonia.

MLS giants Inter Miami are also keeping a close eye on Messi's situation, while Inter Milan are revealed to have held talks over a possible deal before the Argentina international moved to Paris.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after the match on November 30, 2022 © Reuters

After scoring just six Ligue 1 goals in his debut season, Messi has rediscovered his golden touch to register 15 strikes and 14 assists from 26 matches in all tournaments during the 2022-23 campaign.

The ex-Barcelona man now has 26 goals and 29 assists to boast from 60 games in a PSG shirt, but Christophe Galtier's side have experienced a sharp decline in form since the start of February.

Les Parisiens are facing another early exit from the Champions League after a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 tie, which followed losses to Monaco and Marseille in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France respectively.

Galtier has become the first PSG manager since Antoine Kombouare in 2011 to lead the French side to three successive defeats, and he is supposedly now at risk of being sacked if results do not pick up in the coming weeks.

Having shaken off an injury concern to start against Bayern, Messi should keep his place in the attack when PSG return to Ligue 1 action at home to Lille on Sunday lunchtime.