Lionel Messi is yet to agree fresh terms with Paris Saint-Germain, giving rise to speculation linking him with a return to Barcelona.
Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi and would “love” the Argentina star to make a dream return to Camp Nou, according to the club’s vice president Rafael Yuste.
Messi is in the final months of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, having joined the Ligue 1 giants after a financial crisis forced him to leave Barca in 2021.
The World Cup winner has scored 18 goals and provided 17 assists this season, but with PSG trailing in the Champions League, doubts have been raised over his future in the French capital.
While David Beckham-owned Inter Miami want to take Messi to MLS, Barcelona have often been linked with a move for their all-time top scorer and Yuste refused to rule out a reunion on Friday.
“We are of course in contact with Messi,” Yuste said on Friday. “Leo and his family know the affection I have for him that we have them.
“I took part in a meeting that didn’t work out two years ago. That thorn stuck in me and if we talk about La Masia, we talk about Leo.
“I would love him to come back and I think the fans would too because beautiful stories in life have to have a happy ending.
“We are in love with Messi and I think Messi is in love with Barca and the city of Barcelona.”
Any potential return for Messi may depend on Barca’s ability to reduce their wage bill, with LaLiga president Javier Tebas saying they need to save €200 million to meet competition rules for next season.
If the required savings can be achieved, Yuste believes a move for Messi is possible, adding: “Mateu [Alemany] and Jordi [Cruyff] must present Tebas with a viability and revenue plan within two months.
“If all the conditions are given, we would explore this possibility. The president [Joan Laporta] was with Leo’s father recently and there are good relations.
“Obviously there is no plan of attack because I don’t want PSG to take it that way. If it happens, it happens because fate makes you go back to where you have to go.”
“If we could put all the conditions together and bring Leo back to Barcelona, it would be the perfect ending to a very happy story.”
