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Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi and would “love” the Argentina star to make a dream return to Camp Nou, according to the club’s vice president Rafael Yuste.
Messi is in the final few months of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain, having joined the Ligue 1 giants when a financial crisis forced him to leave Barca in 2021.
The World Cup winner has scored 18 goals and added 17 assists this season, but with PSG falling short in the Champions League, doubts have arisen concerning his future in the French capital.
While David Beckham-owned Inter Miami are keen to take Messi to MLS, Barcelona have often been linked with a move for their all-time leading goalscorer, and Yuste refused to rule out a reunion on Friday.
“Of course we are in contact with Messi,” Yuste said on Friday. “Leo and his family know the affection I have for him, that we have them.
“I participated in the negotiations that did not come to fruition two years ago. I have that thorn stuck in me, and if we talk about La Masia, we talk about Leo.
“I would love for him to come back and I think the fans would too, because beautiful stories in life have to have a happy ending.
“We are in love with Messi and I think Messi is in love with Barca and the city of Barcelona.”
Any potential return for Messi may be dependent on Barca’s ability to cut their wage bill, with LaLiga president Javier Tebas claiming they must save €200million to meet the competition’s regulations for next season.
If the required savings can be made, Yuste believes a move for Messi is possible, adding: “Mateu [Alemany] and Jordi [Cruyff] have to present the viability and income plan to Tebas in two months.
“If all the conditions are given, we would explore that possibility. The president [Joan Laporta] was with Leo’s father recently and there is a good relationship.
“Of course, there is no attack plan because I do not want PSG to take it as that. If this happens, it will happen because destiny makes you go back to where you have to go back.
“If we could put all the conditions together and return Leo to Barcelona, it would be the perfect ending to a very happy story.”
