Lionel Messi has dealt a devastating blow to Barcelona's chances of re-signing him.
Lionel Messi has publicly expressed his affection for Paris, which might be devastating news for Barcelona's attempts to re-sign the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi left Camp Nou in 2021 because the club's financial predicament made it impossible to register his La Liga contract.
Messi had spent 21 years at Barcelona at the time, making the transition to a new team in a new country tough.
As a result, his debut season with PSG was underwhelming by his standards, yielding his lowest goal count (11 in all competitions) since he was a teenager. But the 35-year-old
has settled comfortably with PSG thus far in 2022/23, having already eclipsed his goal total from the previous season in only 19 appearances. He has 14 assists as well.
In a YouTube interview for CONMEBOL before the World Cup, Messi said, "I prefer Paris much better. I discovered the city, and I think it amazing.
"There was a significant difference in the first year. Things happened extremely quickly; it was not my intention to leave Barcelona, and everything was unexpected.
After such a long and tough period, I'm glad to be where I am, and my family and I are loving Paris." Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been clear about his desire to bring
Messi back to Camp Nou, stressing the club's'moral duty' to the star while referring to the split as 'provisional' and stating he wants Messi to retire at the club.