Following his dinner with former teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba on Monday, Lionel Messi has added fuel to speculation about a potential return to Barcelona this summer. The PSG and Argentine superstar is set to become a free agent in the summer, and his next destination has been the subject of continuous rumors. PSG has reportedly accepted defeat in their efforts to retain the World Cup winner beyond the current campaign, and Messi's representatives are now considering his options.
During his two-day visit to Barcelona, Messi was greeted with chants from fans during the team's crucial 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday. On Monday night, footage emerged of the 35-year-old leaving a restaurant in the city after having dinner with Busquets and Alba.
Barcelona defender Jordi Alba spoke about the possibility of Messi's return last week, but he emphasized that it has never been a topic of discussion between the two. "It is Leo's decision. Honestly, we haven't talked about this topic, but it's clear that in the end, seeing Messi with another shirt other than Barça's is always weird," he said.
Despite increasing speculation about Messi's potential return, Barcelona faces financial hurdles that need to be overcome for a deal to happen. As time goes on, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop.