“He deserves a second stage here”: Barcelona manager Xavi wants a reunion with Lionel Messi


“He deserves a second stage here”: Barcelona manager Xavi wants a reunion with Lionel Messi

Messi and Xavi at the UCL Final 2015

Lionel Messi will be welcome to come back to the Barcelona club, according to manager Xavi Hernandez, if given the chance. Before Barcelona’s pre-season friendly match against NY Red Bulls on Sunday, the Spaniard made this statement.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 35-year-old signed a two-year contract with PSG, although he might leave the club after this season.

The Argentine star is rumored to be considering a move back to Camp Nou, where his old teammate Xavi currently serves as manager. “I would like Messi’s time at Barcelona not to have ended. I think he deserves a second stage here at FCB. I wish so,” Fabrizio Romano cited Xavi stating. “If the question is whether I would like him to come back? The answer is a resounding yes!”

Also Read: WATCH: Shakira’s song gets played inside FC Barcelona’s dressing room during match against Juventus making players including Gerard Pique awkward

ADVERTISEMENT

Can Lionel Messi return to Barcelona?

Messi for Barcelona

Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, has repeated his wish for Lionel Messi to finish his career with the Catalan team.

Last week, Laporta stated to ESPN that Messi’s narrative with Barcelona “is not done.” A return this summer, according to coach Xavi Hernandez, is “impossible,” but there remains a chance in 2019, when the Argentine forward’s deal with Paris Saint-Germain is slated to end.

However, Barca was able to make significant investments this summer thanks to the sale of 25% of their domestic television rights for the following 25 years, which, according to Laporta, were worth over €600 million. As a result, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Jules Kounde all joined the team.

Despite having the funds to complete the deals, Barca still has to do some work before they can officially register all of their new additions as well as the new contracts that Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele have signed.

ADVERTISEMENT

By the time they face Rayo Vallecano on August 13, the Blaugrana still need to move on from other players and cut their salary bill in order to accommodate all the newcomers under the LaLiga spending cap.

Also Read: “Sunday, the king plays” – Cristiano Ronaldo confirms Manchester United’s return date after failing to secure a move to any Champions League club

Do follow us on: Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter