JAKARTA Lionel Messi is more interested in returning to Barcelona after leaving Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) than joining Saudi Arabian clubs as rumored.
This was conveyed by his father from the Argentine national team star, Jorge, after his son played his last match with the French giants last weekend.
Messi left Les Parisiens after choosing not to extend his contract with the Ligue 1 champion. After confirming his departure, he was also linked to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.
"Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I also want him back. We are confident that Leo can return to Barcelona," Jorge said in an interview with television channel Jijantes FC quoted by The Telegraph.
Jorge is known to have met Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Monday to negotiate a possible deal for the owner of the seven Ballon d'Or.
However, details of the meeting have not been disclosed to date. However, reports say there is a possibility of a plan to bring Messi back to Barcelona apparently having the blessing of La Liga.
Barca were forced to let La Pulga leave in 2021 because of its high salary coupled with La Liga's strict financial rules so that it could jeopardize the club's future.
Messi, who joined Barcelona's youth team at the age of 13 and later became the all-time leading goalscorer and made the most appearances at the club with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions, then moved to PSG as a free agent and earned a two-year contract.
Barcelona's finances have started to improve since then. However, according to La Liga, Barcelona is still exceeding the limit and remains unable to register a new contract signed a few months ago, including defender Ronald Araujo and midfielder Gavi.
Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar late last year, left PSG after winning the Ligue 1 title in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons with PSG and the French Super Cup in July 2022.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
