Argentina legend advises Messi against Barcelona return: “Don’t think it’s healthy for him”

As rumours about Lionel Messi returning to FC Barcelona continue to do the rounds, many players (current and former), managers, and pundits have spoken out in favour of such a move.

But, former Argentina midfielder and 1978 FIFA World Cup Mario Kempes has claimed that Messi should not be returning to Barça in the summer and should continue in France as the Blaugrana are still rebuilding and have a lot of problems.

Kempes, who spent time in Spain during his playing career with Valencia and Hercules CF, said (h/t Mundo Deportivo):

“I don’t think it’s healthy for him to go back to Barcelona. He would be better off in France, so that he can get to the next World Cup in peace, he should stay there. Barcelona’s objectives are different, they are still building up after his departure. There are a lot of problems.”

Further advising Messi to think about helping the Argentine national team in the best possible way, he added:

“Being selfish and thinking about the Argentine national team, he should stay at PSG. For physical and mental peace of mind, it is more likely that he will arrive at the national team fresher in France than at Barcelona.”

While Kempes might be favouring towards Messi continuing at PSG, the supporters of the French club might have differing opinions, having regularly whistled at the 35-year-old global superstar in their recent home games. Justifying those actions, Kempes said:

“What happens is that he is playing in France: a country that played in the final with Argentina, who beat them and Messi was the star player. What happens is that it hurts them to see the best player in the world in their team and that he doesn’t perform like he did in Qatar.”

However, PSG, for their part, are already understood to be planning for the next season without Messi and are prepared to bid goodbye to the Argentine international this summer when his contract expires.

So, the chances of the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner making a stunning return to Barcelona are growing higher with each passing day.