All’s not well with Lionel Messi since he moved from Barcelona in a high-profile transfer to French Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Now, reports suggest that the Argentine magician could push for a sensational return to the Catalan club that launched him to fame since his family is struggling to adapt to life in Paris. Moreover, Messi has also had a hard time finding his earlier form with PSG, netting just one goal yet, in Ligue 1. Contracting COVID-19 has only made things worse. 

Reports suggest that his wife Antonela Roccuzzo is especially keen to return to Spain from the French capital. The family is having a hard time dealing with the wind and rains that marks Parisian weather, while they’d much rather speak in Spanish than pick up French in their new home. 

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She’s expressed a desire to return to their old home in Castelldefels, Catalonia, where their children could reestablish contact with their old friends, and Antonela could go back to shopping in the Spanish capital. 

Apart from the building pressure at home, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez and new signing Dani Alvez, both former teammates of Messi, are also trying to persuade the superstar to return to the club that shaped him. 

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However, Jorge, Messi’s father and agent, has ruled out such a move due to his distrust of Barcelona and its president Joan Laporta. Barcelona had broken off talks with Messi at the last moment, informing him he couldn’t stay. Apparently, Jorge doesn’t trust the club’s explanation of being unable to register Messi. He has pointed to subsequent registrations and signings in January. 

Last month, Luis ‘El Pistolero’ Suarez, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, also opened up about the Argentine ‘suffering’ at the Parc des Princes club. He said, “We talk every day, we always try to avoid expectations because we are players and we know how we have to act in those moments, we talk about the games, about the family. He told me that when he is playing in the cold, he suffers a lot and with the snow. You have to get used to what the cold weather there is like, sure.” 

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While Messi’s future at PSG remains uncertain, despite his contract running through the summer of 2023, a recent Instagram post from his wife showed the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Atletico Bilbao on television in the background. Fans have taken this as a mark of Messi’s continued interest in Spanish football and him remembering his life and career with Barcelona.