Lionel Messi Eyes Return to Barcelona as Saudi Arabia Rumors Swirl, per Report

The soccer legend is a free agent after playing his final game with Paris Saint-Germain last week.

Lionel Messi is a free agent after Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier confirmed the Argentine superstar will not be returning to the team after two seasons.

Messi is now linked to his former team Barcelona after his father and agent, Jorge Messi, told reporters Monday that his son is considering returning to the Spanish squad this summer.

“Of course, he [Messi] would love to return to Barcelona,” the elder Messi said, via ESPN. “I would like it too. We will see.”

It’s possible that Messi could return to his former club where he spent 21 years and won 35 trophies.

The biggest issue at hand for Messi’s Barça return is finances—the same reason the soccer legend left the club in 2021. Barcelona is waiting to receive approval from LaLiga this week to begin transfers. Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez apparently is on board to bring Messi back, too, as he recently stated the “doors are open” for his return.

For weeks now, Messi has been rumored to be linked to the Saudi Arabian pro league’s Al Hilal club after a report from the Telegraph noted that Messi could make as much as $400 million annually if he were to play there.

Messi is reported to have a third team he’s considering—MLS’s Inter Miami. He is expected to make a decision this week, Yahoo! Sports reported.

The 35-year-old finished his second and final season with PSG with 21 goals and 20 assists.