Lionel Messi’s Father Confirms His Return to FC Barcelona: Latest Updates on La Liga Approval and Contract Negotiations

Lionel Messi’s father has confirmed that the world champion wants to return to FC Barcelona this summer.

Messi’s signing is one of Barcelona’s top priorities this summer. So far, the Blaugrana are awaiting La Liga approval of their financial plan as they are temporarily banned from signing new players after exceeding the salary cap.

How 90min La Liga are expected to agree to Barcelona’s plans shortly and the champions will immediately start drafting a contract for Messi, whose father met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday.

The meeting between Laporta and Messi’s father Jorge was recorded by Spanish journalist Toni Juanmarti, who spoke to Messi senior afterwards.

“Messi wants to return to Barça and I would be happy if he came back,” said Jorge Messi. “It’s an option.”

The father, who also represents the superstar as an advisor, later told Jijantes FC: “We trust that Messi [zu Barça] can return.”

FC Barcelona are confident of reaching an agreement with Messi who left the club in 2021 due to financial problems. In addition, the club will use their newfound freedom to extend the contracts of some first-team stars.

Gavi and Ronald Araujo had agreed on long-term contract extensions months ago. But Barcelona’s attempts to register these deals were blocked by La Liga, who banned the club from increasing their salaries while they were already above the cap.

Since then, Barcelona have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to prove to La Liga that they can afford their plans. The recent departures of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have played a big part in that.

Gavi’s and Araujo’s contract extensions are high on Barcelona’s list of priorities, who will set their sights on a number of other transfer targets once negotiations with Messi are complete.

Athletic Club’s Inigo Martinez could join the club after confirming his departure from the Basques in the summer, while Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are also in FC Barcelona’s sights.