When the going got tough, they ditched him wholesale and spared nary a thought for his feelings after he had been giving his all to that very same club since his La Masia days.
Yet now that he seems to be finally finding his stride at the Parc des Princes after an initially challenging period of adaptation in his first season at the Parisian capital club, the main culprit who couldn’t wait to toss him out of Camp Nou are now shamelessly clamoring for his return next season when his contract with PSG ends, despite him having the option to renew it for another 12 months.
The discussions regarding a possible return of Lionel Messi to Barcelona have occurred most of this summer only from FC Barcelona’s side, specifically through it’s president Joan Laporta and a bucket list mention by the Argentine’s former team mate and current manager Xavi Hernández.
However, it is interesting to note that despite the ongoing remarks of wanting Messi to return when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires next year, the 35-year-old has chosen to remain silent on the matter when asked whether he’d be interested in a return to Spain. And could anyone ever fault him if the hurt that he had suffered from his betrayal by those he trusted implicitly at Camp Nou is still languishing within him?
Add to that the wrath of the player’s father Jorge – who also acts as his manager – who had spoken out with great displeasure against Laporta for having tossed his son out into the cold during that Barcelona fracas and it should then come as no surprise that that Messi’s entourage quickly extinguished recent rumors about negotiations with the Argentine, as reported by RMC Sport.
“There has been no approach from Laporta with anyone in Leo Messi’s entourage or vice versa, and anyone claiming that is lying,” the entourage said to the French publication.
It appears Messi’s primary objectives this campaign are two-fold – to win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year and to help his capital club secure a UEFA Champions League title. After all, the Parisian club were the only ones who placed themselves at his disposal and aid when he was forced to depart from Camp Nou.
As for the future, Messi will decide only at the end of this season when the dust of the World Cup in Qatar and the Champions League has finally settled down.
It’s still left to be seen whether the greatest player ever to don a pair of football boots will continue with PSG, return to Barcelona to his roots or take the first flight out to head for the shiny lights of the MLS beckoning to him.