Why is Barcelona keen to sign Messi?
While they aren’t yet out of the gloom, at least financially, Barcelona are in a much better position than where they were about two years ago. A very shaky period that was marked by the exit of star players that made Camp Nou a fortress left the Spanish giants badly exposed and there were fears the team would collapse.
The Camp Nou outfit has hit some major lows in the last two seasons, but 2022/23 is somewhat promising, after winning the Super Cup and the team also looks to be on its way to winning the La Liga title.
With this promise of good days ahead has come a wave of optimism at the club and the fans can dare to dream of the good years again. With all the audacity, Barcelona can dare think of bringing back the world’s greatest player, Lionel Messi.
Messi’s return to Barcelona will ideally be great not just for Barcelona but la Liga and Spanish football as a whole. At a time when the Spanish league is no longer a tight contest, and attention switching to other leagues, La Liga would do with such a major catch.
This season the race for the title could end so early courtesy of Barcelona’s dominance and even the predictions on SportyTrader have had the most winning football odds to check every day favoring the Catalan outfit. After 28 matches, they have 73 points – a 13-point gap from the second placed team.
Re-signing Messi would bring just the needed hype, but Barcelona’s needs are far more than that. They have to handle allegations of misconduct with referees as well as issues with their wage structure that have caused them problems with La Liga.
That Barcelona have played in the Europa League in the last two seasons, emphasizes just how much they need a name as big as Messi’s; to turn their fortunes. The heavy consecutive losses to Bayern Munich in the Champions League come into context here, and it has been in five straight matches since 2020. It all started with an 8-2 defeat at home to the German giants in 2020 and the next four meetings with Bayern would see Barcelona concede two or more in each.
If Barcelona can work their financial limitations and comply with La Liga’s financial rules, then getting Messi from PSG should not be a major issue. PSG fans have lately been booing the Argentine and talks over contract renewal have stalled, which means we could go into the summer with Messi as a free agent, again.
While it remains unofficial as yet, Barcelona have already made a move, with Joan Laporta and Messi’s father, who doubles as his agent, being spotted in a meeting in Catalunya. Unofficially still, Messi is said to be open to a return to Barcelona and it is more like a come-get-me plea.
Signing Messi would kick off a busy summer for Barcelona as he would want players to complement his qualities, and that too is a consideration for the La Liga giants in the face of their financial issues.
Ilkay Gundogan is reported to be one of the players Barca would consider if finances allow but Barcelona will know with Gavi deregistered as a first-team player they remain in danger of losing him for free this summer. This all comes at a time when Ronald Araujo and Marcos Alonso had contract extensions but those are yet to be ratified by La Liga.
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