Football News: Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez hints at Lionel Messi's return

Xavi has nonetheless downplayed the likelihood of bringing Messi back from PSG. Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year agreement last summer because Barcelona could not afford to prolong his contract, 

"Messi has a contract, so it's impossible, impossible," Xavi said ahead of the Cotton Bowl friendly against Juventus on Tuesday. "It doesn't make sense to speak about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best. The president has already said that he hopes Messi's story has not finished with Barcelona. We will see in the future, but it's not the moment to speak about Leo, it's the moment to talk about the exciting players we have here."

With the addition of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha this summer, Barcelona's post-Messi era has advanced to a new level. 

They arrived in January after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres.

Messi's PSG contract will end in 2023 at 36, but rumours about a possible Barcelona comeback persist. 

Diario Sport said that Xavi had asked the president to try to sign him on a free transfer next summer in response to Laporta's remarks to ESPN.

A sour taste remained in the mouth after Messi departed the Catalan club. He was willing to take a lower salary to stay, but Barcelona could still not include his pay in their LaLiga expenditure cap.

"Messi was everything," Laporta said last week. "As president of Barcelona, I did what I had to do. But also, as president of Barcelona, and on a personal level, I think I owe him."

Messi, who made his Barcelona debut in 2004, won four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga championships while playing for the Catalan team.

In what was possibly the most stunning player move in history, he left Barcelona in August 2021 and signed with Paris Saint-Germain amid considerable hype. 

Despite having a lean first season in France, he was also not selected for the Ligue 1 Player of the Year shortlist.

Messi claimed a clause in his contract meant he could leave Barcelona for free when he acknowledged he had planned to do so in the summer of 2020. 

However, Messi was ultimately obliged to stay because the club disagreed and refused to lower its €700 million ($897 million) release clause.

Ultimately, the Argentine was prepared and eager to remain with the team, but financial issues at Barça forced Messi to make his infamous transfer to Paris.

Laporta has already expressed his desire to see Messi return to Barcelona, where he set club records for goals (672) and appearances and won the Ballon d'Or six times (778).