A return to FC Barcelona for is ‘not under consideration’, according to the club’s president Joan Laporta.
The Argentina captain left the Catalan club on a free transfer last summer, 21 years after joining as a child. Barcelona’s dire financial situation meant they were hamstrung by La Liga’s rules and were unable to offer a new contract to Messi at a salary he deemed acceptable, and the French giants secured his signature on a two-year contract.
Since arriving in Paris, though, Messi has struggled to replicate the kind of form which rendered him the best player in world football at Barcelona. The 34-year-old has scored only seven goals in 26 appearances this campaign, while the team itself has been toiling.
PSG have a comfortable lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, but were knocked out of the UEFA in humiliating fashion in a second-leg collapse against , and lost to Nice on penalties in the round-of-16 of the Coupe de France.
Messi’s compatriot Mauricio Pochettino is not expected to continue as manager for another season, and there has been speculation that Messi would seek a departure himself, with his former club particularly in mind. But Laporta has poured cold water on the idea.
‘Right now there is no fluid communication and I do not speak with him,’ Laporta told RAC 1 radio station. ‘There is no personal contact. He is in Paris, but I remember him with affection. I know what is said, but I don’t talk to him. I hear comments from people close to me. I have not received any message from Leo or from those around him about returning. The truth is that at the moment we are not considering it.
Laporta said that Barcelona’s desire to reduce the average age of their squad, and build around talented young players including Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati under manager Xavi is partly why he will not countenance a move for Messi.
‘We are building a young team combined with people of some experience, making a good symbiosis that works again,’ he said. ‘But Leo is Leo, the best player in the world. He deserves respect as a player and person. He is a winner, but it’s not something we are planning.’
Furthermore, Laporta believes that though Messi’s departure was painful, an exit was a necessity from the club’s point of view.
‘For me, it sure wasn’t easy, but as it happened, I thought the club had to come first – I couldn’t put [] at more risk,’ he said. ‘I think we did what we had to do.’
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