Does Barcelona really need Messi's return? Recently, there has been buzz about the possibility of Argentinian star Lionel Messi returning to Barcelona, while hopeful fans cannot imagine any reason for his absence, even if he reduced his salary or played for free for just one season before leaving for America, Argentina, or even retiring altogether! Some blame Messi, others consider Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, to be the problem, and some blame Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga. However, most believe that Messi's return to Catalonia is purely a financial issue, but the reality is more complex.
Messi's return to Barcelona will not be as easy as some imagine; it goes beyond Messi's will, the management's desire, or even the economic situation—there are several obstacles blocking this step.
Barcelona is currently suffering economically due to player salaries, especially the big stars that Josep Maria Bartomeu awarded with hefty contracts. Messi's presence in Barcelona has somewhat hindered the process of reducing salary caps and has contributed significantly to these inflated costs. It is difficult for Messi to return to Barcelona without a salary commensurate with the first team, or without clauses that grant him financial bonuses for individual accomplishments, which the Catalan club cannot afford right now.
Importantly, Barcelona has already begun the process of resolving old financial crises and is trying to rebuild the team with new contracts and terms; thus, it is better for Messi not to return at this moment to avoid hindering this progress.
No one can deny or diminish Messi’s extraordinary abilities and what he contributed to Barcelona in the years before his departure. His miraculous role became more evident when the team fell apart during the last season of Luis Enrique, then under Ernesto Valverde, followed by Quique Setién and Ronald Koeman. The team was in disarray and on the brink of defeat, only for Messi to provide a magical solution that brought them back to the forefront, making him the savior who had all the answers.
For example, during the second leg of the 2018-2019 Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, after the Reds leveled the score, all efforts were focused on finding a way for Messi to score, as everyone in Barcelona looked only to him as the sole solution.
This is often the case for teams during a phase of collapse—the search for a magical solution and a leader to steer the ship without considering tactical fixes. However, with Messi's departure and Xavi's arrival, the team began considering collective solutions for the first time in years. Barcelona is now capable of recovering from setbacks and achieving victories through collective effort rather than individual skill. Even in the current season, they have defeated strong teams with goals from multiple players and various play styles.
Messi's return could potentially reinstate the notion of a superman who can do everything, which might harm the team’s collective mindset, making them rely on him again as the solution. While no one can deny Messi's value, his situation cannot be compared to Dani Alves’s return last year since Messi is a significant star with considerable economic, financial, marketing, and artistic value. Therefore, his presence right now may not be the best choice from all these perspectives.
Messi will eventually return to Barcelona, and perhaps later on the situation will become more manageable, allowing for a farewell from the Camp Nou fans when he announces his retirement.
