La Liga: Messi’s father meets with Barcelona President ahead of possible return

Lionel Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, has been spotted having a meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, amid speculation of his son’s possible return to the Spanish club.

Messi had confirmed he would be leaving PSG at the end of the season after two years with the French side, and played his last game for the club on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat to Clermont which saw the World Cup-winning captain booed by his own fans.

There has been heavy interest in his next move, with former side Barcelona, Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal – who could offer a deal worth £2 billion and Inter Miami among the favorites to secure his signature.

Messi’s father held a meeting with the Barcelona President shortly after La Liga reportedly gave the club the green light to do some important transfer business in the summer. The club is expected to make Messi an official contract offer once they sell one big player.

Jorge Messi briefly answered questions from reporters after meeting with Joan Laporta. The player’s father sidestepped most questions but acknowledged that Messi “would like to return” to the club where he spent most of his career. When asked if he believed his son could be back, he said “Yes.”

“It depends on lots of things. I don’t know anything,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

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Ahora mismo, reunión en casa de JOAN LAPORTA entre el presidente del Barça y JORGE MESSI para tratar el posible regreso del jugador argentino. pic.twitter.com/dYVu16QTz8

— Toni Juanmartí (@tjuanmarti) June 5, 2023

Messi left Barcelona in 2021, signing for PSG on a two-year deal. A move to the Ligue 1 champions happened after his former employers were unable to afford a deal under LaLiga’s financial fair play rules.

During his time with Barca, he netted a record 672 goals in 778 matches for the club he joined as a 13-year-old.

Now it looks as though an emotional return to the Spanish club is likely. A deal would see Messi return to the club he called home for 17 years, giving the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner what would likely be a fairytale ending to his career.