Lionel Messi is reportedly set to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season sparking speculation he could be heading for a sensational return to Barcelona. The Argentine attacker is out of contract at the end of the campaign but PSG do have the option to trigger a 12-month extension.
However, Messi has been growing frustrated of his time at the Parc des Princes in recent months and his name was whistled by his own supporters in the 1-0 defeat to Lyon on Sunday.
Now RMC Sport are reporting that PSG want to offload one of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to make room within their squad and the Barcelona legend is the man that must make way.
Messi had initially looked set to extend his stay in France but the situation has regressed in the second half of the season and after nearly two years at PSG, it could be time for a parting of ways.
The report also references that Barcelona have made no secret of the fact they would be interested in bringing Messi back to the Camp Nou.
Their financial struggles mean it’s unlikely to prove possible but they are willing to try, nonetheless.
Messi’s expiring contract means there would be no transfer fee involved but his wages are likely to prove a sticking point given Barcelona’s ongoing struggles battling crippling debts.
The 35-year-old would be open to the idea of a return to Barcelona but he does also have options elsewhere in North America and the Middle East.
Inter Miami would love to sign Messi and have made that abundantly clear on a number of occasions having also declared interest in Sergio Busquets.
There is also interest in Messi from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where his potential arrival could prove to be significant for the growth of the sport.
If Messi is to remain at PSG, it would likely involve a substantial pay-cut which is an idea that is not welcomed by the player himself.
He had initially been keen to extend his stay with the club prior to the World Cup but a lot has changed in the past five months.
Messi’s current contract is worth a reported £32million gross per season which is why PSG are exploring alternative options.
That said, it was only last week that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi declared he would do everything possible to keep Messi and Mbappe this summer.
“We are lucky to have some of the best players in the world, who wanted to play for PSG despite receiving offers from other clubs,” Al-Khelaifi told Marca.
“We are working to keep them going. We are going to analyse what we are doing and make sure we can continue with them; we want to do things accordingly. We are not going to make mistakes.”
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has 13 goals and 13 assists in 24 Ligue 1 matches this season.
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