Does Messi return to Barcelona again?

 FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has confirmed that he wishes the current Paris Saint-Germain star, Argentina's Lionel Messi, would return to the "Parsa" ranks.

Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last summer, after Barcelona's management failed to extend his contract, given the financial crisis the Catalan side were experiencing at the time.

"I hope Messi's time doesn't end in Barcelona," Xavi said in comments reported by Sport, ahead of the friendly against the New York Red Bulls scheduled for Sunday.

1. "I think Messi deserves a second chance, I hope he comes back to the Catalan team."
2. "If the question is, do I want Missy back or not? The answer is yes. "
3. "The return of Messi is the idea of the future for the team, but not for this season."

Xavi's remarks were preceded by other statements by FC Barcelona president Juan Laporta

 in which he spoke without diplomacy about Messi's possible return to the Catalan team, saying "the return of Messi is an ambition that I have as president and I would like it to happen, I was one of those responsible for that end (the departure of Messi) that I consider temporary."

He stressed that "Messi's stage in Barsa has not ended as we all wanted, it has ended with economic reasons and we have a moral religion, and in this context we would like to end his career in a Barcelona shirt and be applauded by the fans in the stadium (Camp Nou)."

Messi's contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in the summer of 2023, when he will be 36 years old.

Laporta dribbles over Messi's return

• Barcelona FC president Juan Laporta responded to news that Lionel Messi could return, especially after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired in June 2023.

• Laporta spoke about it during the presentation conference of Barcelona's new defender, Jules Conde, on Monday and said

•  "I'm not going to comment on it, because Messi is a player at Paris Saint-Germain."

"They asked me about it in America, we'll see what we can do, and we need to be committed to dealing with Leo and his current situation."

Messi moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, via a free deal, following the failure to renew his contract due to the Fair Financial Play Act.

Messi's contract with the French club expires next summer.