Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez has called on the club to bring their former captain Lionel Messi back to Camp Nou next summer, according to Sport.

Messi was expected to extend his deal with Barcelona last summer after positive initial talks between all parties last summer, but LaLiga’s financial regulations prevented a deal from happening.

The five-time Ballon d’ Or winner then broke his 20-year association with the Blaugrana by signing a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in August, for whom he scored just six league goals in 2021-2022.

Messi admitted in May this year he did not want to leave the ‘complete happiness’ of playing at Barcelona, and his former teammate, Xavi has now told the club’s president Joan Laporta to secure his return.

Xavi maintains an excellent relationship with Messi and he is reportedly convinced the Argentine’s return could bring a lot to Barcelona both on and off the pitch.

The report added that a return would be the final transfer of Messi’s career, with the goal then being that he would hang up his boots at Barca, which would scupper MLS sides’ dreams of him playing in America.

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