Barcelona have ‘plan’ to seal stunning Lionel Messi transfer in January as legend Andres Iniesta hints at Nou Camp return for Paris Saint-Germain star

Barcelona have a ‘plan’ to try and seal the sensational return of Lionel Messi to the Nou Camp in January, according to reports in Spain.

And former teammate Andres Iniesta has got fans dreaming that it will actually happen, saying it is ‘still a possibility’ the legend will be given a homecoming.

It is claimed ‘Mission Messi’ will see Catalan club chiefs attempt to lure the Argentine maestro back home midway through his second season at Paris Saint-Germain.

Losing their iconic talisman was a hammer blow to Barcelona and caused heartbreak for the player himself, and he has been linked with a Nou Camp return one day ever since his shock departure in 2021.

Barca president Joan Laporta has made no secret of his desire to bring Messi back and heal the wounds caused by Josep Maria Bartomeu’s former regime that almost led to the historic club’s financial ruin.

And reports from Spanish outlet Sport claim they are planning to make their move as soon as the January transfer window.

Although, it is claimed that process will be ‘very complicated’ and the club is yet to take any ‘concrete steps’ – and time is running out.

Messi is in the final year of his contract at PSG, having penned a two-year deal with the option for one further year when he joined in a stunning free transfer in 2021.

The Argentina captain has recently said he is more settled in Paris after a tricky first season in the French capital, but it is widely expected he will leave at the end of the season and decide not to extend.

Barca will surely be his next destination, and Laporta has made it clear he wants Messi to return and end his career at the Nou Camp.

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It is approaching the 18th anniversary of the forward’s first-team debut in the famous Blaugrana shirt, and the boss has teased some big news to celebrate.

Speaking earlier in October, Laporta said: “This Sunday will be the 18th anniversary of his debut with Barca, we plan to make some details in private.

“Surely he will see him on Monday in Paris, for the Ballon d’Or gala… surely we will do something to recognise who has been the best player in the history of Barca.

“Leo’s stage did not end as we all wanted. We have a moral debt with him and we would like the end of his career to be in the Barca shirt”.

It is claimed there are several potential stumbling blocks that may make a January swoop unlikely. 

One of those is the fact PSG do not intend to part with Messi in the middle of the season and the deal would cost Barcelona money and mean discussions with tough negotiator Nasser Al Khelaifi. It is also claimed PS ‘do not intend to do Laporta any favours’.

Messi himself has also made it clear he is not considering his future now and is instead fully focused on his season with PSG and the World Cup, which would give Barca a limited window to get a deal done in time.

It is also claimed Barca are yet to actually make direct contact with Messi, and Laporta was not able to meet with the former star as he intended at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.

Meanwhile, Barcelona legend Iniesta has insisted his former teammate is still the ‘number one’ player in the world and hopes to see him back at the Nou Camp.

Speaking to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, the 38-year-old playmaker – who is now in his fifth season with Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe – said: “The Messi of before and the one of now is different from all. He is number one.

“ The only thing he has done is grow, improve himself, and make his teammates better. A team with Messi has a very important point to achieve victories and titles. I haven’t seen anyone do the things he does.

“Going back to Barcelona is never easy, but Leo can come back; it’s still a possibility.”