“Will Lionel Messi Return to Barcelona? New Offer from Barça and Speculations on His Future”

The million dollar deal between Lionel Messi and Saudi Arabia is said to have been sealed. But now there are voices that give hope for a return of the world champion to Barça.

Isn’t Lionel Messi going to the desert after all? The media had recently reported that the million-dollar deal with Saudi Arabia was a done deal. The record champion Al-Hilal made him a huge offer of 400 million euros a year, it said. However, this has not been officially confirmed.

Now the speculation about the next step in the football star’s career is picking up speed. Ironically, his former coach Pep Guardiola has a possible return to FC Barcelona in prospect. “He will do the impossible to return to Barcelona,” the current Manchester City coach told ESPN. And further: “Leo and his family will receive the love that we all have for him as Barcelona fans, for all the gratitude and respect he has shown the club.”

The French sports newspaper “L’Equipe” had previously reported that Barça wants to put an offer on the table – and that includes significantly more money than previously assumed. According to the newspaper, Messi could rake in €23m a year from the Catalans. However, the club would then have to calculate very precisely – and probably cut elsewhere in the squad.

According to L’Equipe, the following players could be axed: 26-year-old Raphina, who still has a contract until 2027; Ansu Fati, the 20-year-old’s contract runs until 2027 with an option to extend it for a further two years; Franck Kessié, 26, who has signed until 2026, and 32-year-old Antoine Griezmann, on loan to Atlético, whose contract runs until 2024. In addition, the 34-year-old Jordie Alba had to agree to a salary cut.

It should be a difficult decision for the 35-year-old Messi. Because a special satisfaction for the Argentine world champion from Paris St.-Germain would be: He would replace Christiano Ronaldo, also known as CR7, as the best-earning athlete in the world. It remains to be seen whether the player can refuse the Saudis’ large sum.

PSG did not deny the transfer, which had been in the offing since the Winter World Cup in Qatar at the latest, but only pointed out that Messi would fulfill his contract by June 30th. Messi’s father Jorge stressed on Tuesday afternoon that his son would only make a decision after the end of the season in Paris. “Nothing has been signed with anyone” and there is no verbal commitment. Messi’s name is “used” to attract attention.

But in the 2021 liaison between the best footballer of his time and the star ensemble financed from Qatar, there had recently been a massive crisis. Messi was suspended from the club a week and a half ago after an unauthorized promotional trip to, exactly: Saudi Arabia. He has since apologized to the fans and the club, for whom he scored 31 goals and provided 34 assists in 71 competitive games. He will appear for PSG no more than four times.