Best Landing Spots for Lionel Messi Amid Transfer Rumors | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

As long as Messi is involved in football, he will be linked with Barcelona. Even beyond his playing days, we can expect years and years of the Blaugrana legend being touted as manager, board member and even president.

Since he left Catalonia in 2021 barely a week has gone by without Messi being linked with a return.

Part of this is because he was robbed of a proper Barcelona send-off. Messi's tears during his farewell conference echoed that of anyone who wanted to see a justified end to his era-defining spell at the club. From teen to top of the world, the story deserves proper closure.

Lovely narrative aside, the reality of the situation is that Barcelona may never be able to afford Messi again. Getting his wages off the salary bill was a necessary evil, and since he left, things haven't exactly improved financially.

There doesn't seem to be a world where Messi's return would be sustainable, especially at a time where Barca have asked players to take pay cuts and can't even register wonderkid Gavi.

While a Barcelona return might make sense for Messi, and the beautiful narrative, it doesn't make sense for the club. They are on the verge of securing a first La Liga title since his departure, real on-pitch progress that signals a beginning to the moving on process.

Common sense suggests there's no real need to start undoing the hard yards made after Messi's departure.