Lionel Messi mobbed on shock return to Barcelona as he meets Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba for dinner
LIONEL MESSI is enjoying a surprise return to Barcelona after being left out of Argentina’s squad to face Chile and Colombia.
The seven-times Ballon d’Or winner sparked immediate speculation he could be discussing a return to his boyhood club after being spotted in the Catalan capital by fans and local media.
But it later emerged he had flown back to Spain from Paris to celebrate Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez’s 42nd birthday with ex-teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
They dined together last night along with their wives at a Japanese restaurant with Pepe Costa, the legend’s friend and advisor who left Barca when the dad-of-three quit the club last summer for Paris-Saint Germain, also joined them.
Messi posed for selfies and signed Barcelona shirts for fans who were waiting for the Argentinian as he left, but declined to speak to journalists who had also amassed outside the upmarket eaterie.
The footballer’s unexpected return to the home where he has spent most of his career came days after newly-resigned Barcelona right-back Dani Alves made a public plea to Messi to follow in his footsteps by returning to the club to finish his career.
The Brazilian said: “Sometimes things don't happen as we dream. I already told him that he is not going to be in any better place than here.
“He told me the same when I left. It would be very good if Messi finishes his career here.”
Messi made his comeback for PSG on Sunday after making a full recovery from Covid by coming off the bench through the second half to replace Neymar.
After the 4-0 win over Reims he was presented with a Vatican Athletics shirt signed by the Pope by Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard, the Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon.
Vatican Athletics is an athletics club described as the Vatican City’s first official sports team.
Messi’s exclusion from the Argentinian squad is said to have been agreed in talks between the PSG striker and manager Lionel Scaloni.
The South Americans have already qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The 34-year-old dad-of-three spent Christmas and the New Year in his home city of Rosario but was forced to extend his stay after going down with coronavirus.
Messi and his wife were filmed singing and dancing at a private party where they met famous Argentinian DJ Fer Palacio.
The DJ later went to the extraordinary length of posting his negative Covid result online after being blamed for Messi’s Covid.
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