Lionel Messi fuels rumours of Barcelona return after dinner with ex-teammates

Lionel Messi fuels rumours of Barcelona return after dinner with ex-teammates

Ifeanyi Ufomadu 12:21 - 25.04.2023

Lionel Messi has continued to fuel speculation regarding a return to Barcelona this summer after being pictured having dinner with his former teammates on Monday.

PSG and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is set to become a free agent in the summer and the rumour mill has been running continuously regarding his next destination.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Messi edging closer to PSG exit

PSG have reportedly accepted defeat in their quest to keep the World Cup winner beyond the current campaign, while Messi's representatives plot his next move.

Messi could leave PSG this summer
Messi could leave PSG this summer

Messi has spent the last two days in Barcelona and fans chanted his name during the team's crucial 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday. 

On Monday night, footage emerged of the 35-year-old leaving a restaurant in the city after having dinner with ex-Barca teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Could Messi join Barcelona?

Barcelona defender Jordi Alba spoke about the possibility of Messi's return last week, though insisted it has never been a topic of discussion among the pair.

 "It is Leo's decision. Honestly, we haven't talked about this topic, but it's clear that in the end, seeing Messi with another shirt other than Barça's is always weird," he said. 

As the weeks go by, it is becoming increasingly likely that a move will happen but there are financial hurdles for Barcelona to overcome and it will be intriguing to see how things play out.

Related content