This return from Leo Messi becomes one of the next goals for Joan Laporta. Returning to Barça means leaving football with the same jersey he began with. The president carries the sting of saying goodbye too soon to a club that felt like home to millions, hailing him as the greatest player in football history, and he longs to reverse that moment.
If not already settled, terms will be arranged to gate a conversation that could soon extend beyond the walls of the club. Messi will exit his contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June. By January, he is free to listen to offers. A stay in Paris seems unlikely now, a path prepared only for the possibility that emerged when Messi hurried from Ibiza to Barcelona in five days to renew, only to learn he could not continue at Barça.
Laporta remains wounded by the farewell and will speak directly with Messi to mend their ties.
Without intermediaries or fixed dates
The agreement will move forward, and it will be direct, from president to player. This would be the first bridge rebuilt, necessary for Messi to rejoin Barça after a rupture that occurred a year and a half ago. No agents, no scheduled meetings. After the World Cup season and the arc of Messi’s illustrious career, the door to a fifth attempt at glory may be reopened.
A warm welcome awaits in the business arena. The reappointed president approaches that anticipated reunion with openness, recalling August 2021 when renewal discussions were left verbal and unsettled. The team’s coach is a former teammate, underscoring a familiar dynamic.
Get back what was lost in the pandemic, flights to Argentina, and more money if taxes rise: Messi asks Barça to replenish
Xavi Hernandez expressed support for Messi’s return, emphasizing the challenge of reintegrating him into a new wardrobe and removing the emblematic power he once carried as captain. Questions remain about how Messi’s role on the pitch would evolve, his leadership influence, and how substitutions and lineups would balance sensitivities and hierarchies within the squad.
The Argentine star will turn 37 in June and is edging toward retirement. Messi and his family are preparing to settle back in Barcelona, a city many feel is the most fitting finale for his remarkable career.
Reintegration into a new group
Age would be a minor hurdle for a squad that is increasingly young and relentless, with intensified pressing and a stronger sense of collective play. Messi’s presence would gradually fade into the background as the group develops, with players viewing their minutes and roles through a different lens. The captain’s armband will trend toward different leaders as the season unfolds, and veterans like Piqué and Alba transition to smaller on-field roles for now.
The record of Messi’s departure cast a long shadow over the club’s salary structure, and substantial reductions remain on the table. The club must carefully align wage costs with financial realities, a task that extends beyond one individual’s salary to the broader first-team payroll.
The future dossier, however modest, will face the scrutiny Tebas and LaLiga apply to Barça’s salary cap.
Thebes’ Distrust
LaLiga rules present transfer challenges because clauses can tie the club’s payroll to a fraction of a player’s previous season’s earnings, even if the player isn’t currently earning that amount at Barça.
Javier Tebas exercises careful oversight given Messi’s salary, market value, and the captaincy references across Barça. Estimates vary, but figures often cited place Messi’s potential value in a broad range depending on the terms under discussion.
Some sources suggest Barça owes Messi around 35 million in a settlement. Money is not the sole obstacle; Messi’s demands were well known in earlier negotiations with the club. In conversations with Laporta and the board, Messi and his circle signaled a strong desire to stay, emphasizing that any agreement would be pursued at almost any cost.
Free returns
It would be possible for Messi to return without impacting Barça’s budget too heavily, as many believe he remains an enduring icon of the club. Still, such a move would require technical alignment and careful financial planning, according to statements from club officials in recent public discussions.
Messi’s departure would be a heavy blow if it ends without his final Barça jersey. The president feels a deep sense of obligation to Barcelona and to its supporters, suggesting that this reunion, if it happens, would be anything but a mere formality.
This return from Leo Messi remains a focal point for Laporta. The idea of rejoining Barça, leaving football with the same emblem he wore from the start, lingers as a wound the president wants to heal. It would be a story about coming full circle, with a wish to reclaim a chapter many believed was closed for good.
If not already underway, terms will guide a dialogue that could ripple beyond the club’s walls. Messi’s PSG contract ends next June 30, and January marks the moment when offers can be considered. Paris appears unlikely to extend, a path taken by necessity rather than choice, much as Messi’s rapid return attempt from Ibiza to Barcelona in five days suggested a renewal was possible but inconclusive.
Laporta remains focused on healing the rift with Messi and will engage directly to restore trust.
Without middlemen or specified dates
The deal would move forward in a direct line, from president to player. It would mark the first rebuilt bridge since the rupture that occurred over a year and a half ago. The absence of chosen agents and fixed timelines would aim to simplify a process that has lingered for too long.
The welcome in the business world would be unequivocal. The club’s leadership would greet Messi with open arms, acknowledging the past drama and the wish to move forward in a manner that respects both the player’s legacy and the club’s financial realities.
Get back what was lost in the pandemic, flights to Argentina, and more money if taxes rise: Messi asks Barça to replenish
Under discussion is a balance between the star’s influence and the team’s structural needs. The coaching staff would adapt to a refreshed roster, ensuring that leadership, field presence, and tactical responsibilities align with a modern Barça strategy while preserving internal harmony.
Messi, heading toward the late stages of his career, would bring a wealth of experience to a Barcelona side eager to leverage his genius while continuing the club’s evolution. The focus remains on a clean reintegration that respects both Messi’s history and Barça’s ambitions.
Reintegration into a new group
The younger squad prioritizes pace and motion, pushing forward with a collective mindset. Messi’s influence would be carefully managed to avoid overshadowing emerging leaders, while his proven ability to change a game would still be a valuable asset when called upon.
Discussions around salaries, budgets, and a sustainable wage bill stay at the forefront, with a realistic plan to align the club’s financial framework with sporting goals. The aim is a scenario where Messi can be part of Barça again without destabilizing the club’s finances.
The future dossier, however modest, will face the rigor Tebas and LaLiga have observed regarding the Barça salary cap.
Thebes’ Distrust
LaLiga’s rules shape how transfers move forward, especially involving clauses that affect payroll calculations even when players are not actively earning at the club. The debate around numbers—whether they sit around the mid-to-high range—continues to be a key factor in decision-making.
Public reports have pegged the potential financial discussions in a wide range, reflecting the uncertainty that accompanies any large-salary negotiation. The club’s leadership has emphasized a pragmatic approach to meet both sporting and financial commitments.
There is also talk of a possible settlement figure, with other stakeholders noting that any agreement would be contingent on a balanced approach to both parties’ needs. In private, the sense remains that a resolution could be reached in a way that honors the past while enabling a pragmatic path forward.