Lionel Messi Highly Likely To Return To Barcelona Next Summer

Supporters of FC Barcelona could be welcoming back their prodigal son in Lionel Messi to the Camp Nou by next summer according to the latest insider info.

Veronica Brunati of Telemundo Deportes issued a short Tweet that sent fans into a frenzy.

"On July 1, 2023, Lionel Messi will be a Barca player," she wrote.

Messi made his exit from Barcelona on exactly the same date in 2021 after negotiations with the club stalled due to the financial issues stemming from the Spanish La Liga's rules on player contracts.

It was initially reported then that Messi had reached a verbal agreement with Barcelona to take a massive 50 percent salary cut in order to stay with the club.

The notion of him staying grew stronger when Barcelona was set to receive an influx of cash worth $332 million as part of the La Liga's rehabilitation from the global pandemic.

However, all hope was lost when the club announced that Messi would have to leave regardless of the amount of money that they were about to get from the league's partnership with CVC Capital Partners.

It is worth noting that Messi agreeing to stay in Barcelona on a massive pay cut and the announcement of his departure all happened on the same day.

Because of the circumstances, French Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain was in "direct contact" with the Argentinian superstar before being announced as their newest signing.

Despite the attempts of Barcelona to keep Messi, the departure was all but assured and found himself in France to form a formidable attacking trio composed of former Barcelona teammate Neymar and French star Kylian Mbappe.

Paris Saint-Germain went on to win the Ligue 1 title after remaining ahead of second-place Marseille by 15 points with Mbappe ending the campaign as the league's top goal-scorer with 28.

Messi, however, struggled in his maiden season away from the Camp Nou as he only found the back of the net six times.

The likelihood of Messi returning to Barcelona was given a shot in the arm when the club's economic vice president Eduard Romeu spoke with Catalunya Radio recently.

"It would be possible financially because if he returned, it would be as a free agent. But it's a decision that has to be made by the coaching staff and the player. It doesn't correspond to me [to make those decisions], but it would be viable," he explained in Spanish as later translated.

Seeing Messi return to the hallowed grounds of Camp Nou would be a welcome turn of events for the La Liga powerhouse since they are currently tied with Real Madrid in the standings–though the Catalonians have the advantage on goal difference.

Messi is entering the twilight of his career at age 35 (36 next June), and him coming back home would be an incredible sight for the loyal fans of Barcelona.