FC Barcelona openly pursues Lionel Messi reunion as his contract with Paris Saint-Germain nears expiration
Pedri Hopes for Messi’s Return to Barcelona as Contract Offer Is Made
According to reports, FC Barcelona has made its first offer to the 35-year-old Lionel Messi, proposing a two-year contract with an annual salary of €25 million. Should Messi accept the proposal, Pedri eagerly anticipates reuniting with him at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking with GOAL, the midfielder shared his reaction to Messi’s potential return to Camp Nou this summer after witnessing his former teammate leave the club in 2021 with tears in his eyes.
“I would like Messi to come back to Barcelona,” expressed Pedri to GOAL. “It depends on Barcelona and Leo. But as far as I’m concerned, I hope he comes back.”
With three more games remaining in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 season, Messi seems focused on finishing the campaign before addressing his future. While Barcelona appears to be the primary European destination, there are other parties interested as well.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal and MLS side Inter Miami are linked to the player, but reportedly Messi wants to remain in Europe, making those two destinations appear unlikely.
According to a recent report from RMC Sport, Marco Verratti is another candidate to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, as the club prepares for a potential mass exodus. The report suggests that Verratti is prioritizing a move to Real Madrid, but the Spanish giants are currently focused on pursuing Jude Bellingham and have no intention of signing the Italian midfielder.
It is plausible that both Messi and Verratti may leave PSG at the end of the season. Messi has been strongly linked with a return to Barcelona, as Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his desire to re-sign the Argentine this summer.
If Verratti follows Messi, it could imply that the Italian midfielder may also consider joining Barcelona. From a sporting perspective, it could be a favorable move for both parties. Barcelona is actively looking to reinforce their midfield following the imminent departure of Sergio Busquets. While they have been linked with a move for Ilkay Gundogan, they may face competition from Arsenal, and Manchester City is keen on retaining their star player.
However, Barcelona may not be in a position to finance a move for Verratti as the midfielder still has a contract with PSG until 2026, which would likely come with a hefty transfer fee.
One potential scenario where Verratti could follow Messi is if they both end up in Saudi Arabia. Both players have been linked with moves to Saudi clubs, with Verratti particularly likely to make a move to the Middle East, which could be a lucrative deal for the midfielder.
On the other hand, Messi still has an emotional connection with Barcelona and might not be willing to venture outside of Europe just yet.
