Barcelona defender Jordi Alba has added his voice to the discussions about the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to the Camp Nou this summer.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar faces an uncertain future at his current club, given that his contract expires at the end of the season. The Paris club has offered him a new deal but appears to be increasingly inclined towards ending his stay at the club this summer.
The Argentine has been linked with clubs outside Europe, with teams in America’s Major League Soccer and Saudi Arabia Pro League particularly interested in signing him.
Inter Miami, who former Manchester United and PSG player David Beckham owns, has a deal ready for him. At the same time, Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal are ready to make him the highest-paid player in the world if he decides to join them.
However, Messi reportedly prefers to continue playing in Europe, with a return to Barcelona seen as a possibility for the World Cup winner.
Barca are also keen to have him back after they reluctantly let go of him due to financial constraints two years ago.
But their current financial situation could hinder their hopes of signing Messi. Yet, they are working with La Liga, though, to be able to afford the PSG talisman.
And now Messi’s former teammate Alba has voiced his wish to reunite with his long-term friend at Camp Nou.
But the defender stated that it is hard for the transfer to materialize this summer.
“I don’t know,” Alba said via Sportskeeda.
“It would be good for us (Messi’s return), but it is difficult,” he added.
Alba is good friends with Lionel Messi. Both players had a good relationship during the PSG forward’s time in Camp Nou. They played 345 competitive games together for the Blaugrana, combining to score 34 goals.
Alba spoke about his partnership with Messi in February:
“We (Messi and Alba) understood each other perfectly,” he said.
“I would just put it at the right time. It was increasingly difficult because all the rivals already knew us, but he came in from the second row and sometimes found other teammates who were more unmarked.”
“We made a very good duo,” Alba continued.
“With him, everything was easier. Almost all my assists are to him. I remember that the first was at El Sadar. In all aspects of the game, he is the best.”