El Clasico hero says Barcelona players are waiting for Messi's return

Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto, who was one of the heroes of their recent El Clasico victory over Real Madrid has stated that he and other Blaugrana players want Lionel Messi to return to Camp Nou. 

Roberto played with Messi for a decade at Barcelona before the Argentine was forced to seek new pastures after Barcelona fell short of LaLiga’s financial fair play rules. 

Messi’s time at his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, appears to be coming to an end, as the 35-year-old appears increasingly unlikely to sign a new contract before his current deal expires in the summer of 2023. 

Messi’s reluctance to sign a new deal keeping him in France would have been made worse after he was booed off the pitch following by PSG ultras after the club’s loss to Rennes in Gamweek 28, and Roberto believes that disrespect like that will only move Messi closer to a Barcelona return. 

Speaking after Barcelona’s El Clasico victory, Roberto said, “You don't understand that he is having a good season in Paris, scoring many goals, assisting… 

“Because of the [Champions League] elimination, they have taken issue with him, but he is a spectacular player and it's bad that a player of this level is treated in this way.”

Sergi Roberto also told Jijantes FC that if it was left to the Barcelona players alone, Messi’s return to the club would already be a foregone conclusion. 

When asked if Barcelona players would welcome Messi back to the club, Roberto responded “[We will welcome him] with open arms, who is not going to be prepared for Messi's return? 

“In the end, we don't want to talk a lot because he, the president, the coach or whoever has to decide, but if it's because of the players, we are waiting for him now.”

Messi has scored 18 goals and assisted 17 more in 32 appearances in all competitions for PSG, but his future at the club is still in doubt with a deal yet to be agreed for his extension.