Lionel Messi could finally return to FC Barcelona after his contract with PSG expired on June 30. The 35-year-old left his boyhood club in August 2022 after the club could not reach an agreement with La Liga's financial rules. Reports say that Barcelona are trying again to bring Messi back and are doing everything possible to get him back. The club also recently conducted an internal financial report which proved that Messi's return would be very profitable for all parties involved. According to the report, his return will be 230 million euros per year, of which 150 million euros will come from new sponsors and 80 million euros from ticket sales. Lionel Messi earns $41 million per season at PSG. In other words, he pockets €788,000 a week, but a move to Barcelona will now reduce his monthly wages to €750,000. La Liga president Javier Tebas has also claimed that Barcelona will not be allowed to re-sign Messi at his previous wages. He clarified that the club could not sustain.
FC Barcelona's first-choice left-back Alejandro Balde suffered a serious injury against Mallorca at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
The La Masia academy graduate - one of the breakout stars of this season's La Liga-winning campaign after making his debut under Ronald Koeman last term - has been filling in at right-back. This allowed the veteran, who was dropped from the starting line-up in Jordi Alba, to start his final home game for the Blaugrana after announcing on Wednesday that he would be leaving for the coming weeks. And it has paved the way for Jules Conte to act as a centre-back amid rumors that the Frenchman has informed the club that he is ready to leave the club after just one year in Catalonia. Conte denied the validity of a report from Rilevão's Toni Juanmartí, who could not get back on the right almost a quarter of an hour later as Barca led their visitors 1-0. However, a stand-in was required on 14 minutes as Balde was cut down by Amat Ndia's over-the-top challenge at close range. Ndia initially received a yellow card, which was upgraded to a red when the referee watched a replay of the incident. According to Miguel, "initial explorations point to right ankle ligaments" and the teenager will be out for at least 10 weeks.
As Barca started the second half of the match 2-0 up, the club's official Twitter page revealed that Balde had a "partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right ankle". FC Barcelona have inquired about signing Angel Di Maria. FC Barcelona coach Xavi has spoken about Lionel Messi's possible return to the club, stating that he is in talks with him. Lionel Messi recently won Ligue 1 with PSG and was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season, but he won't be renewing with PSG. Messi is tipped to return to Barcelona and Saudi Arabia.
The Barcelona coach has spoken to Xavi Sport about Messi's potential return. Here's what he had to say:
"There is no doubt that Messi can still help us. He can play in many positions. A false 9, wing, inside... He almost became a midfielder. Maybe he lost a little explosiveness, but we saw his World Cup. He still has years ahead of him. "Messi's return makes sense for me, no doubt. I have told President Laporte about it. Leo is still a crucial player. He's still hungry, he's a winner, a leader. And very different. The way I want the team to play, there's no doubt he'll bring a lot to us. “I have a strategic plan in mind for Leo. That's Leo's thing. I think he has to decide, it's him... I'm talking to Leo, yeah. Cancelo had a falling out with Pep Guardiola and was sent out on loan to Bayern in January. Barcelona were also interested in acquiring his services, but their Financial Fair Play situation prevented a move. Bayern had a €70m permanent purchase option for Cancelo which they do not intend to trigger. With the season in Germany coming to an end, the right-back will return to Manchester City, where it is understood he has no future either. Of course, the Premier League champions are ready to sell the experienced full-back and La Liga's title holders are ready to pounce.
A new right-back is one of the priorities for Xavi Hernandez and Cancelo.
Going into summer. Cancelo tops the target list as the signing of Juan Foyth appears impractical, while Benjamin Pavard could renew his contract at Bayern Munich. As such, the development of Manchester City being open to selling him could provide a boost for the Catalan heavyweights. However, as was the case with most of their transfer plans in the summer, any move for Cancelo will depend on the club's Financial Fair Play situation. Barcelona are thought to be keen to sign the former Juventus ace on loan given the financial circumstances, but Man City appear to be pushing for a sale and could demand €40m. A move for Cancelo may also be difficult to finance, as Xavi needs a better pivot midfielder to replace Sergio Busquets. With Arsenal also understood to be in the picture, it remains to be seen whether or not the La Liga champions can get their hands on the Portuguese international.
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