The fact that Barcelona is interested in re-signing Lionel Messi when his deal with PSG ends at the conclusion of the current season is no longer a secret. However, if the Catalan giants want to get the Argentine back to Camp Nou, they may need to make some changes to their original plans.
Lionel Messi won’t come back to Barcelona if Blaugrana president Joan Laporta decides to sell Jordi Alba, claims Catalan publication El Nacional. The defender, who has been seated on the exit row with other veterans, is alleged to have received a demand from the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to be kept.
It is important to note that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba get along well on the pitch; during their time together in the Catalan city, the pair frequently managed to breach opposing defenses.
Laporta must decide whether to sacrifice by keeping Alba in order to get Lionel Messi back, or whether to carry on with his purge. Additionally, the manager of the Blaugrana, Xavi Hernandez, will play a significant role in the process.
Without a doubt, Jordi Alba has had a challenging time at Camp Nou this season. Having started just eight games for the club this season across all competitions, the defender has dropped down the pecking order. He has contributed two assists.
Meanwhile, Messi has improved this year after a sluggish start to life at Parc des Princes the previous year. The Argentine has been a star performer for the French powerhouses, chipping in 12 goals and 14 assists in 18 games on both fronts for Christophe Galtier’s team.
How can Barcelona sign Lionel Messi?
The Blaugrana cannot afford to make any extravagant purchases in the transfer market given their precarious financial circumstances at the present. However, since they will be able to sign Lionel Messi as a free agent when his contract with PSG expires at the end of the current season, it might not have any impact on their chances of doing so.
The player’s salary might also not be a problem because Barcelona is rumored to have saved up to €50 million by having Gerard Pique retire and forego his salary. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup is over in December, Messi is predicted to decide on his future.
