FC Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste confirmed on Friday that the Catalan club has contacted Lionel Messi to explore a potential return of the Argentina star to Camp Nou in the summer. This comes after much media speculation over Messi’s future and whether or not he would depart PSG at the end of his current contract.
After famously leaving Barcelona in an emotional farewell ceremony to the club in 2021, Messi signed with reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris-Saint Germain as a free agent. While his PSG contract includes an option to extend for another season, Messi has so far not chosen to activate this option.
“Leo [Messi] and his family know the affection I have for them,” Yuste said during a press conference on Friday for the Barca Academy World Cup. “I participated in the negotiations that unfortunately did not lead to a successful conclusion. Of course, I would love for him to come back, for what it could represent at a sporting, social, and economic level. We are in contact with them, yes.”
