The statement that “with or without him, Barcelona won’t win the Champions League” and the warning for Lionel Messi not to return to Camp Nou are opinions expressed by an unnamed source and do not necessarily reflect the views of the club or its fans.
Messi spent his entire senior career at Barcelona before joining Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021. He is currently running down his deal at PSG and set to become a free agent this summer, leading to speculation of a possible return to Spain for a second spell at Barcelona.
While some may question whether Messi’s return would guarantee success for Barcelona in the Champions League, there is no denying his incredible talent and impact on the team during his time there. Messi helped lead Barcelona to four Champions League titles and was a crucial part of their success both domestically and internationally.
WHAT HAPPENED?
That message should come as no surprise to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner as it has been delivered by Real Madrid legend Guti. The former Blancos star will be reluctant to see any deals done that allow Clasico rivals from Catalunya to become stronger as a collective. A move for Messi could make that possible, with the 35-year-old forward running down his contract at Paris Saint-Germain towards free agency. A second stint with Barca could be on the cards, if financial issues can be ironed out, but Guti feels the all-time great would be taking a big risk in rejoining a side that remains a work in progress despite its current standing at the top of the Liga table.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Guti has told El Chiringuito: “If I were Messi, I wouldn’t go back to Barcelona. He already achieved everything there. It’s too big of a challenge at this moment. Now, with or without him, Barca won’t win the Champions League.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE:
Messi is said to be keen on getting at least one more shot at capturing a fifth European crown, with two seasons at PSG failing to fire him into contention for that prize despite a star-studded squad in France allowing the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Sergio Ramos to turn out alongside him.
WHAT NEXT?
Messi previously hit 672 goals for Barcelona across an iconic spell on their books, but they are not the only side in the running for his signature as the legendary South American is also seeing moves to MLS or the Middle East speculated on.