‘BARCA ALWAYS LEO'S HOME’

Coach Xavi says decision to return depends more on Messi than the club

At La Liga’s halfway mark, league leaders Barcelona are five points clear of rivals Real Madrid.

While the Catalan club are doing well without seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, coach Xavi Hernandez’s response to a potential reunion with the superstar was clear Why not?”

“T think it depends on him, what he wants, what he feels,’ added Xavi, who was responding to a question from The Straits Times during a virtual conference with Asian media last Friday.

“Of course Barcelona is always Messi’s home and the doors will be open for Leo, especially if I’m the coach here. But... the decision depends on Messi more than the club.”

Messi ended a 21-year stay at Barca to join Paris Saint-Germain ona free transfer in 2021. Despite offering to halve his wages, he was unable to extend his Barca contract due to La Liga’s strict salary-cap rules.

Just before Messi led Argentina to the World Cup in December, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said the 35-year-old is definitely” keen to stay at PSG.

However, the forward has also been linked with several clubs, including Barca, Inter Miami and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, the arch rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club Al Nassr.

While Barca’s record goalscorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances has yet to announce his plans, he recently reiterated that he will definitely live in Barcelona after hanging up his boots.