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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Colin Millar

Lionel Messi's father 'makes phone call' to Barcelona as he plots PSG escape

Lionel Messi’s father and agent Jorge Messi has reportedly made a phone call to Barcelona to gauge if his son can make a sensational return to the Camp Nou.

Things have not gone to plan for the Argentine superstar at Paris Saint-Germain following on from his high-profile summer transfer from the Catalan club last summer.

The 34-year-old has netted just two domestic goals across 19 appearances since his move to the French capital and has not come close to finding his top gear.

It comes after the club’s fans pointedly booed Messi and Neymar’s every touch of the ball during their Ligue 1 clash against Bordeaux – the first match since the loss to Real Madrid.

The French capital club were left stunned as they were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday night against Madrid with a late collapse in the game.

Have Your Say! Should Messi try to return to Barca? Tell us what you think here.

Messi is said to be hopeful of leaving PSG halfway through his two-year deal (Joan Gosa/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto)

The tense atmosphere at the club built as PSG ultras called on president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to resign following the latest European humbling for their club.

The ultras have called for meaningful change in the club’s board of directors, a month on from their major protest at a Ligue 1 clash in which they blasted the ‘overpaid mercenaries’ on their books and attacked the board.

On Monday, there were fresh bad vibes at the club with a group of fans graffitiing the club’s Parc des Princes stadium with a message calling for the exits of Al-Khelaifi and the club’s sporting director Leonardo.

That followed continued chants from the club’s fans against Bordeaux on Sunday calling for change at the top of the club, with president Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo among those to come under the heaviest criticism.

Messi penned a two-year contract in the French capital last summer after Barca were unable to register a new contract for him due to La Liga’s economic regulations.

Messi cut a frustrated figure as PSG slumped to a stunning loss at Real Madrid last week (David Ramos/Getty Images)

His contract at PSG is not due to expire until next summer but Catalan-based journalist Gerard Romero claims that the player’s father Jorge has made a phone call to Barcelona to gauge if a sensational return to the Camp Nou may be possible.

Messi is both the club record appearance holder and record goalscorer at the Blaugrana but his form in Paris has never come close to replicating the genius he displayed regularly across 16 years at Barca.

The Argentine – who is hopeful of representing his nation at this year’s World Cup finals, which are likely to be his last – has netted seven goals in total across 26 appearances for Les Parisiens.

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