Guardiola wants Messi to return to Barcelona: “Can enjoy his farewell as he deserves”

Speaking to ESPN, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that he wants to see Lionel Messi back at Barcelona so that the Argentine can get the farewell that he deserves.

Messi was forced to leave Barça in 2021 under very difficult circumstances as the club were not in a position to renew his contract. The Argentine captain ended up signing for PSG, but is now set to depart at the end of the season when his deal runs out.

A return to Barcelona is being talked about but the operation has been made tricky because of the club’s Financial Fair Play situation. Despite that, the La Liga leaders remain confident about bringing their former captain back to the club.

And now, former Barcelona boss Guardiola, under whom Leo flourished into the world-beater that became synonymous with the game of football, has advocated for his return to the club so that he can be given the send-off that he deserves.

“I hope one day we can say goodbye to Messi with Barcelona as he deserves, he is the best player in history,” the current Manchester City ace said.

“I am a socio of FC Barcelona and I have my own seats on the field and I hope that the day will come when Leo can enjoy his farewell as he deserves.”

Guardiola further added that he believes Barcelona president Joan Laporta is doing everything he can to assure that Messi gets a proper farewell, saying:

“No one expected him to leave like this and I am convinced that the president is working to see him off in a way that he deserves, he made Barcelona much bigger than it was when he came in.”

Barcelona, though, will need to stave off competition from Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, who are pushing hard to sign Messi as well. There were reports doing the rounds that the Argentina captain had already reached a verbal agreement to play in the Middle East next season.

However, his father and agent Jorge Messi denied those reports, stating that there is no agreement with any team at this point.