Xavi Opens Door For Lionel Messi FC Barcelona Return Ahead Of El Clasico

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has opened the door for Lionel Messi to return to the club ahead of El Clasico.

The manager was addressing the media in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s meeting with bitter rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, and was alerted to comments recently made by La Liga president Javier Tebas.

Asked by ESPN who he would most like to see in the Spanish top flight aside from next generation superstars Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, Tebas answered “Messi” affirmatively despite having made his contract renewal with the Catalans difficult last summer which forced the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to head to Paris Saint Germain as a free agent.

“I think Messi has two or three years left at a really good level. Messi at 80% of what we have seen is still at the top level, so if I could see Messi back in Spain, I would be delighted,” Tebas explained.

“I think Messi would return to Barcelona if he came back to Spain on very different economic terms, so it would not be, in inverted commas, such a ‘burden’ [on Barca’s finances].

“I think the marriage between Messi and Barcelona was perfect and I think a reconciliation would generate significant financial synergies for both parties. I think it would be good on an economic level. On a sporting level I have no idea. At the end of the day, I can’t analyze that side of things or the dressing room,” Tebas concluded.

When broached on the La Liga chief’s thoughts, Xavi was just as welcoming of a prodigal son return for the La Masia graduate and his former teammate.

“I think Messi is the best in history and in the history of the club,” Xavi said. “The doors will be open and as long as I’m a coach, it’s as if he can come every day if he wants.”

“As a club we owe him a great tribute. He has a contract with PSG and I can’t do much more,” Xavi pointed out, but he then suggested that Messi can come every day to “watch training or talk to the coach” as “that’s how it has to be for what he has given us.”

“It’s priceless,” Xavi concluded.

Booed by his own fans at the Parc des Princes on the Sunday following PSG’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid, Messi was reported by Gerard Romero as having instructed his father and agent Jorge to call the Barca board and sound out a sensational second chapter at Camp Nou.

More news is expected in the coming weeks regarding a potential transfer, the reporter stressed, with Xavi’s remarks now only adding fuel to the fire.