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A sensational return to Barcelona could be on the cards for Lionel Messi, with vice-president Rafa Yuste confirming that talks have been opened.

It appeared at one stage as though the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was destined to sign a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with an offer having been on the table there since the Argentine returned from a triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign. No deal has been done, though, and Messi continues to head towards free agency as a result.

There has been talk of interest being shown in the all-time great from MLS and the Middle East, but strong professional ties to Camp Nou mean that a stunning retracing of steps could take the 35-year-old back to Catalunya.

Yuste has said of returning Messi to his roots at Barca, after bidding an emotion farewell to the mercurial South American in 2021: “I participated in the negotiations that sadly weren’t successful. I am still frustrated that Leo couldn’t continue playing for this club. If we talk about the Masia academy and youth players, we are talking about Leo. He arrived here when he was 12 years old. Of course, I would love to have him back. I say this personally. But I think many of our supporters would love that too, for everything he would represent if he came back., not only on a sporting, economic and social level, among other issues, but also because I think that all beautiful stories must have a happy ending. And answering your question, my answer is yes. We are in contact with them (referring to Messi and his father and agent Jorge Messi).”