Messi hoping Laporta personally contacts him over a possible Barcelona return

The buzz around Lionel Messi possibly returning to FC Barcelona in the summer continues to grow with each passing day.

The 35-year-old’s current contract with PSG expires at the end of the season and an exit seems to be on the cards for the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner come summer.

There is interest from Saudi Arabia and the USA, but Messi wants to remain in Europe for at least one more year, which puts Barcelona in a strong position.

However, the Catalans have to iron out their kinks concerning the Financial Fair Play rules with La Liga. And the plan is for them to submit an economic viability plan to the league in the coming days and if it gets the green light, they will make definitive approaches towards Messi.

Meanwhile, Roger Torello of Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona are continuing to try and fit their former captain into the Fair Play formula, but at the same time there are important conversations still to be held with the player himself.

And, as per the report, Messi is hoping that Barcelona president Joan Laporta himself takes the step of directly contacting him to discuss a return to the club in the summer.

It is no secret that things did not end well between Messi and Laporta due to the manner in which the former’s exit from the club was handled in 2021.

Laporta recently mended his relationship with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, with the pair even holding a meeting last month.

And the seven-time Ballon d’Or is now hoping that the Barcelona supremo takes the same step with him as well.

Laporta has spoken about Messi and a possible return in the recent past, saying: “Messi knows that Barça’s doors are open to him. We will see. I have to find a way to improve the current relationship between Messi and Barça.”

“Messi is the best player in history. He has been the most important player in Barça’s history. Leo knows that we have him in our hearts. He is part of our shield.”

While he has spoken of his admiration towards the Argentine, there has been no direct contact between the two. And as per the report, the Barcelona president will not act on anything until and unless he is certain that Messi can be registered with La Liga.