Lionel Messi is ON, Barcelona

Lionel Messi’s possible  return to Barcelona , with the Liga giants freeing up funds, but they still need to sanction summer sales. Barca remain keen on bringing a prodigal son back to his spiritual home. Financial struggles have been making life difficult, but useful funds have been generated from the sale of Antoine Griezmann and release of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Barca will also be making savings in their basketball department, with it possible that around €40 million (£35m/$43m) will be added to the pot this summer. That will be enough to register the contracts of Gavi and Ronald Araujo that have already been agreed, while also bringing in experienced defender Inigo Martinez from Athletic Club.

Barca  may decide to offload the likes of Ansu Fati, Abde Ezzalzouli and Raphinha in the summer. They will need Messi to remain patient for now, as he mulls over approaches from elsewhere. But La Liga are happy with the club’s financial viability plan, and that means the iconic Argentine could be back on the Blaugrana’s books for 2023-24.

Lionel Messi is further away from doing a deal with the Blaugrana than he was before Monday. They highlight the fact that Messi is keen to decide his future quickly, and at the time of the meeting, Barcelona are still not in a position to offer Messi a contract. They also go on to note that it is in Jorge Messi’s interest to ensure the pressure is on the club, and reportedly wants the deal done in two or three days.

Earlier in the day it had also been reported by Toni Juanmarti that Barcelona were confident they could make the move happen if given a few weeks, however that clearly does not correspond timescale they have been given.

Meanwhile Veronica Brunati has reported that Messi is willing to wait a little longer in order to consummate a deal, which will require the La Liga approval of their viability plan.

A sense of urgency works against Barcelona, for Jorge Messi and in the favour of Inter Miami and Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, who have already presented offers according to multiple reports.

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.Sarah H

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