Can Lionel Messi Return to Barcelona? Xavi Confirms Door Is Always Open

Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona's manager, says Lionel Messi will always be accepted back to the club as long as he is the coach. This comes amid his troubles with Paris Saint-Germain.

Due to the club's financial difficulties, Messi, 34, was forced to leave Barcelona last summer and signed a two-year contract with PSG. However, he has struggled to find his footing in Paris, scoring only two goals in 18 Ligue 1 outings. Last season, he scored 30 goals in La Liga.

The Argentine is broadly accepted as Barcelona's greatest ever player. Between 2004 and 2021, he scored 672 senior goals for the club, earning 10 La Liga titles, seven Spanish Cups, four Champions Leagues, and numerous other awards.

However, following his Champions League loss to Real Madrid last weekend, he was booed by his fans.

When asked about La Liga President Javier Tebas' interview wherein he expressed interest to see Argentina forward return to Spain, Xavi replied he believes that "Messi's the best ever" and "the door will always be open," per ESPN.

He also said Messi "owed a huge homage" from the club. "That's how it should be because everything he has given us has no price. But he has a contract with PSG, so I can't say much more."

Messi Deserves It

In an interview ahead of El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday evening, Xavi said Messi "earned having the doors open to Barca," so if he desires to watch training or talk to the coach, he is welcome.

Xavi's appointment as Barcelona manager in November sparked a major turnaround in the club's fortunes. The Catalan powerhouse has climbed to third place in La Liga and is expected to capture their Europa League win.

Messi's current PSG contract expires in 15 months, and there is no sign that he will leave the club at this time. However, given his poor form and high salary, the French heavyweights may be inclined to release him from his contract and permit him to return to Barcelona.

PSG lost 3-0 at Monaco on Sunday, which was yet another setback for the club. Messi was unable to play because of sickness. Mauricio Pochettino's team remains 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, but they have been eliminated from the Champions League and the French Cup, according to a report from Mirror.

Despite his problems during his first season at PSG, Messi claims he is determined to stay at the club beyond this season and establish himself as a super-star in France.

An Accomplished Player

He still aspires to win the Ligue 1 title and the Champions League with the Parisian club.

Xavi stated that Messi's return to the Nou Camp is always possible. Despite rumors of a return to Catalonia, he and his entourage have had no communication with the club since he left them last summer.

However, several of Messi's former Barcelona teammates, such as Dani Alves, believe the Argentine should return to the Nou Camp, per Daily Mail.

Lionel Messi has achieved ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues with Barcelona and dozens of individual awards over his illustrious career, including seven Ballon d'Or victories.