Xavi has asked Barcelona to sign Lionel Messi

Xavi has asked Barcelona to sign Lionel Messi

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The coach would like to bring the Argentine legend back to Camp Nou next summer

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has asked president Joan Laporta to look at bringing Lionel Messi back at the end of the new season, in the summer of 2023. The coach, who has an excellent relationship with the Argentine star, is convinced that Messi's return could bring a lot to the club both on an economic level and a sporting one, given that Xavi considers Messi still has many years left in his boots.

Messi's signing could also help end the disagreements that came up as a result of his exit from the club and help close the circle of his relationship with Barcelona, which started when he was just 13 years old, still a child. The objective will be that he then can hang his boots up as a Barcelona player.

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 by the back door after a long renewal process which never came to fruition. His departure left a wound in the club which ended up affecting them in many ways. The first was economically, with PSG bringing in and earning a lot more money through sponsorships and contracts as a result. It left Barcelona without a reference point, without a world-class star and a brand which many companies wanted to associate themselves with.

Barcelona suffered from Messi's absence and the bank accounts did too, as a result. In a sporting sense for the first time in two decades the team ended with absolutely nothing in the trophy cabinet, finishing a period of dominance. Barça had problems scoring goals, and they suffered in the Champions League especially. Xavi gave the team new life when he arrived which helped them get over Messi's departure a little.

Despite the fact that two years will have passed and Messi will be 36 years old Xavi believes that Leo can still offer a lot on the pitch given his experience and quality. The coach thinks it’s reasonable for Messi to come back and lead the team in the near future.

Then there is a global aspect: Xavi believes that his arrival could help the club get back to their pedestal. Barcelona lost their status in the world when they lost Messi, and now they can find it again. Messi returning to the end of his career will be excellent news for the club who would get a top asset back.

Xavi has asked the president and board about the idea of signing Messi when his contract at PSG ebds, so he can finish his career at Barcelona and the club are looking at it. PSG told Messi that they want to extend his contract beyond 2023 when it’s finished. The French club are aware of the benefits from hiring Messi even if his performance has not been at the level they may have hoped for, but Messi has not said anything for now. He wants to see how the season goes and what happens in the World Cup, which is his big challenge - to try and win it with Argentina.

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