Lionel Messi wants to RETURN to Barcelona after leaving PSG

Lionel Messi wants to sign for a sensational return to Barcelona after Paris Saint-Germain announced his exit on Thursday, but the Catalan club are locked in a battle with LaLiga to see if a move is financially viable.

The Parisians have confirmed that Messi will leave the Ligue 1 winners at the end of the season, with Saturday’s match against Clermont Foot being his final outing for them at the Parc des Princes. Messi has a concrete offer from Saudi Arabia and Inter Miami are also interested.

But the World Cup winner, 35, favors a return to Barcelona where he has won 21 major trophies and six Ballon d’Ors in 17 years – although the cash-strapped club will have to sell players to comply with La Liga’s strict financial guidelines.

Messi’s only concrete offer so far has come from Saudi club Al Hilal, with the Riyadh-based side offering a two-year deal worth around £2billion.

Spanish champions Barcelona have been at odds with La Liga for some years over financial rules and the club, led by Messi’s former team-mate Xavi, need to get the league green light on their economic plan before signing the winner of world Cup.

Messi won 21 major trophies and six Ballon d’Ors in 17 years with the Catalan giants

Barca are likely to exceed the total team expenditure allowed despite the sanction of the departure of captain Sergio Busquets and club legend Jordi Alba.

La Liga have a ‘40% rule’ which will force them to spend only €40m out of the €100m they bring in. The club has used palancas – financial levers – to increase revenue over the past 12 months, such as in-house scrapping. Barca TV channel and signing of new sponsors.

If La Liga were to cut time at the Catalan club, they would present Messi with a package worth around £25million a year, although it would not be impossible for him to favor a move to Saudi Arabia.

Another club that has been mentioned is David Beckham’s Inter Miami, with French newspaper L’Equipe suggesting the Florida side could sign Messi and loan him out to Barcelona, ​​but that wouldn’t be a realistic outcome for the Argentine. .

Manchester City had previously been interested in Messi but pulled out of a 2021 signing showdown and won’t be tempted to revive that, as Newell’s Old Boys lack the finances to bring him back in Rosario.

Messi’s children – Thiago, Mateo and Ciro – have a reserved place at a school in Castelldefels, Catalonia. Barcelona also yesterday denied reports that they were set to be banned from the Champions League for financial failings.

Messi emotionally left Barcelona in 2021 after a financial tussle with the club

Barcelona are locked in a battle with La Liga to see if a move is financially viable (pictured – La Liga president Javier Tebas)

Father and agent Jorge Messi is pushing to reunite his son with Xavi and the Camp Nou, but the only concrete offer comes from the Saudis and the pair will wait to see if Barcelona get the green light from La Liga to proceed.

PSG coach Christophe Galtier confirmed the World Cup winner’s departure yesterday and said: “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of football. Clermont Foot will be the last Leo’s match at the Parc des Princes.

Messi joined PSG after a financial tussle with Barcelona in 2021 and won two Ligue Un titles, although the Parisians are no closer to securing the Champions League crown they so desire.

After watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s stock plummet since moving to Asia, Messi would prefer to stay in elite-level football, with him eyeing a potential last dance for Argentina in their Copa America title defense hosted in the United States. next summer.