![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/3123417-64024068-2560-1440-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Lionel")
Image credit: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Barcelona are in contact with Lionel Messi about returning to the club, says vice-president Rafael Yuste.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old Argentina forward is Barcelona\u2019s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 games and left the Nou Camp for financial reasons in 2021.<\/p>\n
His two-year contract with Paris St-Germain expires this summer and his preference is thought to be\u00a0staying with the French club.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo and his family know the affection I have for them,\u201d Yuste said.<\/p>\n
Messi agreed a new deal with Barcelona on reduced wages two years ago, but it was dependent on the club selling players following new financial rules.<\/p>\n
That did not happen in time and ended his storied spell at the club which yielded four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles \u2013 plus six Ballons d\u2019Or.<\/p>\n
\u201cI participated in the negotiations which unfortunately did not lead to a certain result,\u201d said Yuste.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had this thorn in my side that Leo couldn\u2019t continue at our club.<\/p>\n
\u201cMessi knows how much we appreciate him. I would love for him to come back. We\u2019re in contact, of course, with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina in December, has scored 29 goals in 66 games for PSG.<\/p>\n
He recently claimed his\u00a0100th international goal\u00a0and his\u00a0800th career strike.<\/p>\n
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