via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi arrives on the pitch after holding a press conference announcing his signing with French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on August 11, 2021. Messi, the six time Ballon d’Or trophy winner with FC Barcelona, signed a 2-year contract with an option for a third year with the French club. (Photo by Gisele Tellier/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 11: Lionel Messi arrives on the pitch after holding a press conference announcing his signing with French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on August 11, 2021. Messi, the six time Ballon d’Or trophy winner with FC Barcelona, signed a 2-year contract with an option for a third year with the French club. (Photo by Gisele Tellier/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi is struggling in his first season with Paris Saint Germain. The forward has failed to replicate his numbers from FC Barcelona in France, and PSG is struggling as a team as well.
The low point of the season was their UCL loss against Real Madrid, which meant another early exit in the competition for Messi. His homecoming in France was pretty brutal, as PSG fans booed Messi and Neymar Jr every time they touched the ball.
Moreover, the Argentinian forward wasn’t named in the squad to face AS Monaco in the league, a game which PSG lost anyway. His first season away from Barcelona hasn’t gone well at all.
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FC Barcelona manager Xavi talks about Messi’s return
On the other hand, Barca is in the form of its life. The club has started playing beautiful football and the fans are happy. Appointing former club legend Xavi to be the club’s manager has been a masterclass from president Joan Laporta, and the results prove it.
However, there’s still a possibility that Messi could return to Camp Nou. Xavi spoke about it in an interview before the El Clasico and revealed that the door will always be open for Messi.
“[Messi] is the greatest of all time and he will always have the door open for him at Barca. As long as I am Barca’s coach, he is welcome any day,” Xavi said.
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Barca owes Lionel Messi a big tribute
He didn’t stop there and mentioned how the club owes the Argentinian forward a big tribute for everything he has done for them. Xavi added that Messi could come to watch the team’s training sessions and speak to him any time he wanted to. However, the hierarchy at PSG won’t be too happy if it ever happens.
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“I think we owe him a big tribute. I think that as he is under contract with PSG, there is not much we can say. But if he wants to, he can come to watch training and speak to the coach. What he has given us is priceless,” he added.
