WATCH: Thousands of Barcelona fans demand Messi’s return during title celebrations

Barcelona fans gathered in the city and the club’s training facility to greet the team and serenade their returning champions after clinching their first LaLiga title in four years, and they took the chance to plead with the club’s hierarchy for the return of legend Lionel Messi. 

Barcelona sealed the 2022/23 LaLiga title with a dominant 4-2 win over Espanyol to clinch their 27th league title and their first under Xavi Hernandez, but on-pitch celebrations were truncated by disgruntled Espanyol fans in the RCDE Stadium, who invaded the pitch and stopped the Blaugrana from enjoying their big moment. 

The Catalan giants would not be denied a night of celebration, however, as thousands of fans lined the streets of the city of Barcelona to celebrate the triumph. 

Fans trooped to the city centres at La Rambla in Barcelona and the Canaletes fountain, as they will again later today when they gather to celebrate the historic achievements of the team, while more fans greeted the team at Barcelona’s training centre. 

Even while celebrating the title earned by this set of players, the Blaugrana fans still had time to call for Messi’s return as they chanted his name for minutes on end as part of the title festivities. 

Fans could be heard calling for the return of the legendary Argentine to the club, as they have done in recent weeks leading up to the LaLiga triumph since the World Cup winner’s possible availability became apparent. 

Messi could be on his way back to the club when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain ends this season, despite rumours of an agreement on a mega deal to go to Saudi Arabia which have been roundly denied by the Argentine playmaker’s entourage.