Coach Xavi: 'Barca always welcomes Messi'

"The best player in history is always suitable for any team," Xavi said at a press conference on February 22. "Barca is Messi's home, and the door is still open for him to return."

Xavi also said that Messi's ability to return mainly depends on the 36-year-old superstar. "Messi is my friend and the two brothers are still in regular contact," said the 43-year-old coach. "I also talk a lot with President Joan Laporta, and now it all depends on Messi, and what he wants to do in the future."

Messi played for Barca from 2004 to 2021, setting a record of playing 778 matches and scoring 672 goals. He was Xavi's teammate from 2004-2015, winning the Champions League four times together.

According to Spanish newspaper COPE, Laporta met Jorge Messi - Lionel Messi's father and agent - on Thursday, February 16. The two sides discussed the future of the Argentine superstar, and the possibility of holding a ceremony to honor the player. According to sources from Messi's team, it is almost impossible for him to return to Barca, but Laporta has not ruled out this possibility.

The meeting between Laporta and Jorge went well, but the two sides did not want to make it public to avoid public speculation. Messi still has a contract with PSG until the end of June 2023, with the option to extend it for another year if desired. More importantly, PSG are in the most important phase of the season, when they will play the second leg of the 1/8 round of the Champions League at Bayern Munich in two weeks.

Earlier this week, Messi also returned to Barcelona to rest and meet old teammates like Sergio Busquets. This midfielder and Jordi Alba are ready to reduce their salary so that Barca can afford to welcome Messi back.

On February 22, Messi returned to Paris and trained with PSG, preparing for the away match in Marseille on Sunday evening, February 26. Christophe Galtier's army is leading Ligue 1, five points more than second in the Marseille table.