Barcelona head coach Javi Hernandez has confirmed that he hopes current Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi will return to the ranks of Barca.
Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last summer after the Barcelona administration failed to renew his contract due to the financial crisis that the Catalan team was going through at the time.
“Hopefully Messi’s time at Barcelona doesn’t end,” Xavi said in comments published by Sport newspaper ahead of a friendly against the New York Red Bulls scheduled for Sunday.
“I think Messi deserves a second chance, I hope he returns to the Catalan team.”
“If the question arises: do I want Messi back or not? The answer is yes.”
He continued: “Messi’s return is an idea for the future for the team, but not this season.”
Xavi’s statements were preceded by other statements by Barcelona president Joan Laporta, in which he spoke without diplomacy about the possible return of Messi to the Catalan team. It’s temporary.”
He stressed that “Messi’s phase at Barça did not end the way we all wanted, it ended for economic reasons and we have a moral obligation and in that context we would like him to end his career in a Barcelona shirt. “and the fans applaud him at the stadium (Camp Nou)”.
Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in the summer of 2023, when he turns 36.
Source: agencies