Barcelona are ‘likely’ to make a sensational contract offer to Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi in a bid to lure him back to the Camp Nou, according to reports.
Messi, 35, is out of contract with PSG in the summer and his long-term future in the French capital has been in doubt after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has attracted interest from the MLS, as well as a potentially lucrative move to Saudi Arabia has also emerged in recent months.
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Messi left Barcelona in 2021 and completed his stunning free move to PSG after the Spanish club were unable to renew his contract due to La Liga’s financial regulations.
It is believed that Barcelona manager Xavi, who played alongside Messi at the Camp Nou, would welcome back the PSG forward in the summer transfer window.
However, Sport reports that Messi would have to take a massive pay cut as part of Barcelona’s two-year contract amid the club’s crippling financial difficulties.
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According to the Spanish newspaper, the World Cup-winning Argentine would have a €13m-per-season deal at the Camp Nou if he were to make his return.
It is believed that Barcelona are ‘no longer in a position to offer such a mega salary’ due to their financial situation.
Messi’s new salary would be a mammoth drop on his previous Barcelona deal, which was reportedly ‘worth approximately €100m-per-year gross.’
But the quarter sum of €25m-per-year gross that Barcelona could offer to Messi on his return would only bring him a net wage of under €13m per year at the club.
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The €13m-per-year net wages would put the Argentina captain close to what Robert Lewandowski earns at Barcelona, according to Sport.
Barcelona’s contract with Messi would keep him at the Camp Nou until 2025, but it is reported that there would be a clause in the deal.
The contract clause would allow Messi, who turns 36 in June, to leave Barcelona in 2024 ‘if he wants to.’
Lewandowski, who left Bayern Munich last summer to sign for Barcelona, admitted that it would be “something incredible” to see Messi make his return to the club.
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“Messi belongs to Barca and if he returns it will be something incredible,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“We know that his place is here in Barcelona. I don’t know what will happen, but I hope that next season we can play together.”
Topics: Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, Spain, Football
Adnan Riaz