Messi Wants FC Barcelona Return, Father Confirms Son's Wish Following Meet With President Joan Laporta

Leo Messi and his father met FC Barcelona president on Monday for his potential return to the catalan club.

Lionel Messi's chance of returning to FC Barcelona has received a green from La Liga according to Relevo journalist Toni Juanmart. Messi and his father Jorge Messi were spotted in Barcelona on Monday. The father-son duo met FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta at his home in Spain.

Messi's father also confirmed his son's desire to join his childhood club once again following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner will be a free agent from June 30 and an official statement from the Ligue 1 has confirmed he will part ways with the French champions. (Watch: Zlatan Ibrahimovic Gets Emotional While Announcing Retirement From Football)

 Jorge Messi and Barcelona president Joan Laporta — meeting now to discuss Leo’s return after La Liga approved the plan.

More to follow on the Messi saga, key hours and days ahead.

 Exclusive video by @tjuanmarti pic.twitter.com/Fshgi2xX8f — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 5, 2023

"Messi wants to return to Barca and I would love him to return," SPORT reported him as saying. 

"It is an option. Do I trust that he can return? Yes."

 Jorge Messi after meeting Barcelona president Laporta: “Leo wants to return to Barcelona and I’d love to see him back to Barça”.

“Barça move is an option for sure”, Jorge Messi added — via @tjuanmarti. pic.twitter.com/UwIrMX4GSz — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 5, 2023

Messi left the club after 17 seasons in which he helped the Catalan club win 35 titles including 4 Champions League, 10 La Liga titles, and 7 Cope dep Rey trophies. He is still the club's top scorer and the player with the highest number of assists.

Earlier, PSG announced that Messi will not play for them next season and reports linked with clubs like Al-Hilal and Inter Miami in the United States started floating around the internet like fire. Messi paired up with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in PSG eyeing a much-awaited UEFA Champions League title but the star trio failed to lift the European trophy in both seasons under the management of Christophe Galtier and Mauricio Pochettino.