Barcelona have been described as ‘studying’ ways that they might be able to reunite with Camp Nou icon Lionel Messi next year, having lost him to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Messi joined PSG as a free agent when his last Barça contract expired. Both parties had agreed to an extension, even though the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had actually asked to leave in 2020, but the club’s dire finances meant they didn’t have the salary room to register it with La Liga.

Speaking during the summer, Barça president Joan Laporta was adamant that the ‘Messi chapter isn’t over’.

He said at the time: “I think it's our responsibility to try to…find a moment to fix that chapter, which is still open and hasn't closed, so it turns out like it should have and have a more beautiful ending.