Messi to return to Barcelona Calling time on his career

LIONEL MESSI, 35, has confirmed in an interview with a Spanish newspaper that he will return to Barcelona, however, it won’t be to play football.

In the interview on Saturday, February 4, Messi describes Barcelona as his home saying that’s where he will return once his football career is over. But he has also not ruled out a return to the club where he won so many trophies.

He said: “When I end my career, I will re turn to Barcelona, it’s my home.”

Asked whether he would once again play for Barcelona, he said “that is still open.”

It is known that the club’s Chair Joan La porta is keen to bring the Argentine interna tional back to the club, sparking spec ulation about his return.

The Barca legend, who scored an incredible 672 goals in 778 competitive games, is contracted to Paris Saint­Germain (PSG) until the summer of this year. After that he will be a free agent, perhaps opening the door to his return. Messi left Barca on a free transfer in 2021.

PSG are said to be keen to keep Messi and is said to want talks as soon as possible to extend his contract. There has been talk of a one ­ year contract but the club have neither confirmed nor denied the speculation.

A WORLD CUP winner with Germany, Mesut Özil, is reported to be calling time on his career and with immediate effect.

A reporter with the newspaper ‘Fanatki’, Yakup Sycamore, revealed the news on Twitter on Friday, February 3.

It is understood that his contract with Istanbul Basaksehir is also coming to an end, with the 34­year­old apparently not turning up for training this week.

The source of the information was not revealed by the journalist, however, there were said to be reports that the former German interna­