As discussed previously, Lionel Messi could be in line for a return to Barcelona. Now those rumours are heating up.
Could we possibly see a Barcelona return for Lionel Messi in 2023?
A short answer: likely, but not certain.
After the heartbreaking press conference back in August of 2021, Messi signed a two-year contract with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. This contract expires in June of 2023 which is when FC Barcelona is looking to get him back on a free transfer.
The Argentinean star hasn’t spoken publicly about his intentions for the 2023 season as he wants to focus solely on the current season with PSG and the World Cup that will be played in November, according to TYC Sports journalist Gastón Edul.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina might be his last opportunity for international glory, so it’s evident that he doesn’t want any distractions before the tournament begins.
But the question remains, could Barcelona even afford to see him back at the Camp Nou? The reason behind Messi’s departure from the club was due to financial reasons as Barcelona was looking at bankruptcy straight in the face if they didn’t tidy things up like player salaries and investments. Luckily, with the work of Joan Laporta and his board, they have managed to put the club in a healthy financial position for this upcoming season.
The club announced back in August of this year that they have gone from a negative BBB rating to a stable BBB rating with projected profitability in FY 2022. This is incredible considering where the organization was last year and it shows the club is finally heading in the right direction financially.
On top of this good news, VP of FC Barcelona, Eduard Romeu, has stated in an interview with Catalunya Radio that the return of Lionel Messi to the Spotify Camp Nou is “economically viable because he would come for free.” He also made it a point that registering players in 2023 would not be a problem whatsoever, which is amazing to hear as that was the reason Messi couldn’t stay at the club in the first place.
So, back to the original question. Will we see it happen? Will we see the great Lionel Messi back in Barcelona?
Hopefully. All factors have indicated a return of the GOAT, but only time will tell. I think that just like Messi and his decision on staying or leaving PSG, we need to focus on the present and only worry about the future when we get there.