Four FC Barcelona players would prefer not to see Lionel Messi back at Camp Nou, El Nacional has reported .
The Argentine becomes a free agent on June 30 and has his future up in the air with no final decision yet announced on where he will continue his club career.
SPORT reported last week that his current employers Paris Saint Germain will return to the negotiating table with an improved renewal offer in the coming weeks, and Messi has also been linked with a switch to Inter Miami in the MLS.
Meanwhile, however, a Barca laden with financial problems continue to work on finding a way to see their greatest ever player don Blaugrana again, with El Nacional relaying reports of packages that would see Messi paid just €200,000 ($215,300) yearly as a salary but anything between €100-200 million ($107-215 million) after the proceeds from his farewell match and merchandise are counted.
Yet while fans in Camp Nou sang Messi’s name during the King’s League final four on Sunday, not everyone will be as pleased to witness the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner plying his trade in the stadium as Culers and players such as Sergio Roberto – who welcomed Messi back with “open arms” in a post-match interview following El Clasico just over a week ago.
According to the same Catalan digital newspaper, there are four players in Xavi Hernandez’s La Liga-leading squad that won’t be over the moon to learn that they’ll share a locker room with Messi providing president Joan Laporta can pull off signing him once more.
The first among these is goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who Messi supposedly had a falling out with over since departed La Masia graduate Riqui Puig.
Next is Ansu Fati, who “betrayed” the Messi family by ditching Messi’s brother Rodrigo and choosing to be represented by Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes instead.
Then there is Robert Lewandowski, who would lose his standing as the biggest star in the team if Messi came back, and Ousmane Dembele whose right wing berth could be threatened.
Above all, however, we should expect this group of players to act as professionals and put any potential conflicts or concerns to one side for the good of the team.
In the summer, it is highly likely that Fati is moved on to the Premier
Furthermore, Ter Stegen and Lewandowski are competitive winners and model professionals, who have never seemed as though they will let their egos get in the way of shared potential success.
Lastly, as per Ousmane Dembele, Mundo Deportivo reported before the weekend that Messi would have a new deeper role under Xavi that would see him play as a right interior or false left winger like Gavi that drops back when left back Alejanrdo Balde charges up their shared flank.