Barcelona take step back from Messi with plan in mind

Leo Messi's contract at PSG is up in June. At the moment, despite Al-Khelaifi ordering the French club to do everything in its powers to keep him, he's still not decided what he'll do.

FC Barcelona are keeping a close eye on his situation. The 'Cules' want him back, and that's no secret. Barca President Joan Laporta and manager Xavi have publicly praised the footballer, who spent his whole career at the Camp Nou before going to Paris in 2021.

The plan to get Messi back in Spain has got underway. Now, 'Mundo Deportivo' claim that Barcelona are keeping him on the back burner. The Catalan side are keen to know what he's up to, but they're not going to move heaven and earth to get him.

Messi is already aware Barcelona are interested, and the club think that should be enough. They're now hoping for a move from the forward himself so they can get things moving.

The Camp Nou board know that, in terms of money, they're not going to be able to make the man from Rosario a big offer. If Barca get the chance, they'll have to offer him a lower salary, but they'd have a trump card up their sleeve: they'll try and convince him, according to the newspaper, with a percentage of what he earns them commercially.

If he accepts the offer of returning, Messi will have to accept he won't be the star of the squad. He'd now have to play with those who took over the reigns when he left.

In any event, Barca are certain what their position is. Firstly, it's got to be Messi who makes the first move and the side seem to know this from someone close to the player, whether it be someone from his entourage, a player or Xavi.

In the mean time, Barcelona will go looking for a lower-profile player. If the Argentine's return ends up being a possibility, they'll go all out to get him. But up until then, Messi can forget about having his former side chasing after him every day of the week.