Lionel Messi has NOT agreed to rejoin Barcelona next summer when his contract expires at Paris Saint-Germain, according to respected transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Reports originating in Argentina on Tuesday claimed that Messi will rejoin the Catalan club on July 1, 2023 when his current deal with PSG comes to an end.
But Romano insists these reports are false and that Barcelona are yet to officially approach Messi over a return to the Nou Camp.
Advert
"We have many rumours about Messi returning to Barcelona in the summer of 2023. What I can tell you is that, speaking to sources close to Leo Messi, there is still nothing agreed with any club," Romano said in a video on Twitter.
"Not with Barcelona - still no official bid. What is true is that Barcelona are dreaming about Messi's return, they are discussing it internally but there is still no official bid to Leo Messi.
"Also, there is still nothing agreed with Paris Saint-Germain. PSG are loving Leo Messi's impact, especially in this second season and they want to extend his contract.
"But at the moment, also in this case, there is still nothing agreed. Why? Because Messi wants to focus on the World Cup with Argentina. He wants to focus on Paris Saint-Germain's season. He wants to win the Champions League with PSG and then decide in 2023 what he wants to do.
"So Barcelona are dreaming of Messi, PSG want to keep him - but at the moment, still nothing is decided by Leo."
Earlier on Tuesday, Argentine journalist Veronica Brunati - who is believed to be close to Messi - claimed the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would return to Barcelona next summer.
"Lionel Messi will be a FC Barcelona player on July 1, 2023," she tweeted.
It came after Spanish journalist Spanish journalist Miquel Blazquez also claimed that Messi was set to snub the offer of a contract renewal at PSG to rejoin Barcelona.
"Leo Messi is clear that he is not going to renew his contract with PSG," tweeted Blazquez.
"The Argentine soccer player will not continue playing in Paris next season."
Messi left Barcelona to join PSG on a free transfer in 2021, with the Catalan club unable to retain him due to their ongoing financial difficulties.
Messi endured a difficult debut season in French football, managing just six league goals, but has now rediscovered his best form in the current campaign.
The Argentina international has already scored seven goals in all competitions this season, including a sublime free-kick in Saturday's 2-1 win over Nice.
Despite the reports linking him with a return to the Nou Camp next season, Messi insists he is now happy in France.
"I feel good, I feel different from last year. I knew it was going to be like this," he said last month.
"I'm more comfortable with the club, the dressing room, my teammates, the game. I feel very good again, so I'm starting to enjoy it again."
Topics: Football, Transfers, Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, La Liga, Ligue 1
Rory O'Callaghan