BARCELONA fans chanted Lionel Messi’s name in the 10th minute of their El Clasico clash with Real Madrid.
Messi, 35, is being heavily linked with a return to the Spanish giants in the summer as his Paris Saint-Germain future remains up in the air.
It was reported last week that Barcelona have “made contact” with Messi in a bid to bring the club legend home.
And fans of the club made their feelings known at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.
They could be heard singing “Messi, Messi,” in the 10th minute of their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against fierce rivals Real Madrid.
Messi, who scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, wore the No10 shirt for 13 years until he left in emotional circumstances in 2021.
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And the adulation he received from the supporters was in stark contrast to the treatment he received from the PSG faithful on Sunday.
Messi’s name was jeered by his own fans before their clash with Lyon.
Christophe Galtier’s side then went on to lose the game 1-0 as their lead at the top of Ligue 1 was cut to six points over the weekend.
Messi has contributed 18 goals and 17 assists in 33 appearances for PSG this season.
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But he looks increasingly likely to exit the club at the end of the season after two years in the French capital.
Messi is out of contract in the summer as Barca prepare to try and pounce to secure his return.
Barca vice president Rafa Yuste said: “We’ve been in contact with Leo Messi’s camp.
“Leo knows how much we appreciate him and I’d love for him to come back.
“For sure Messi loves Barca and the city, so we hope to find the right conditions to continue his history here.”
But Messi has also been the subject of a ridiculous £350million-a-year deal from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
