Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi’s contract with the French giants expires in June. As a result, there’s an uncertain future for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner as to where he’ll play for the 2023-24 season.
Messi becoming a free agent this summer has reignited hope at FC Barcelona that a reunion can occur. The Spanish club’s vice president Rafael Yuste says the club is “in contact” with Messi’s camp over a potential return to Camp Nou.
“I have to tell you to everything; I would say ‘yes’,” Yuste said (h/t The Athletic). “To everything you’ve asked me, I would say yes.
“I would say yes because Leo and his family know the affection we have for them, that I have for them in this case.”
While Barcelona would like the Argentine to return, they cannot ignore their financial woes, considering they want to circumvent how they can pay Messi. Nonetheless, there’s also reported information that the La Liga club could ask Messi to take a pay cut too.
Yuste seems determined to bring the PSG star back to Barcelona since he took part in the negotiations that didn’t result in a new contract for Messi, eventually leading to the 35-year-old exiting the club in 2021.
“I took part in the negotiations that, unfortunately, didn’t lead to a certain result, with which I’ve always had and I have this thorn in my side that Leo couldn’t continue at our club,” Yuste continued.
“But also because I think that beautiful stories in life have to end well. And to what you said: also yes, yes. We’re in contact, of course, with them.”
