FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi are reportedly in talks to reunite after his departure a couple of years ago, owing to the club’s grave financial mismanagement. The Spanish club has been working relentlessly on bringing the Argentine star back, and both parties seem willing to make concessions to finalize the deal. 

Barça has spent time considering options to register Messi with La Liga, and the team is confident they can make it happen. The Argentine, whose contract runs out in June, is said to prefer a return to Barca over lucrative offers from MLS and Saudi Arabia. 

Reports suggest that Messi could return with a contract worth 25 million euros, which is a quarter of his last salary with the club in the 2020-21 season. While the deal is not yet finalized, it seems there is a real chance that Messi will once again don the FC Barcelona shirt.

The agreement forms part of Barca’s negotiation strategy for its new salary cap for the 2023-24 season, which includes contract updates for Ronald Araújo and Gavi, among others.

The club’s offer to Messi is reportedly for two seasons till July 2025, with the option to terminate the contract after the first year. However, La Liga President Javier Tebas has said that FC Barcelona wouldn’t be able to register Messi under current circumstances. For that to happen, Barcelona will have to lower the wage bill to meet financial fair play requirements.

Barcelona’s vice-president Rafael Yuste had also confirmed that the talk between both parties is already underway.

“Leo and his family know the affection I have for them,” Yuste said. “I participated in the negotiations which unfortunately did not lead to a certain result. I’ve always had and I have this thorn in my side that Leo couldn’t continue at our club. Messi knows how much we appreciate him. I would love for him to come back. We’re in contact, of course, with them.”

Lead Image: Lionel Messi/Instagram