It’s been a wild weekend in world football: derby games, decisive goals, drama, red cards, shocks and kicks. Sunday, 19 March 2023, will be remembered as a pivotal day in recent history – because it could be the day the course of Lionel Messi’s proverbial ship was set for his home port of Barcelona.Kessie’s stoppage-time decider presents Barca with both – El Clasico win and LaLiga title!Just a few minutes after Barcelona’s title-clinching El Clasico victory over Real Madrid, Blaugrana boy Sergi Roberto, fresh from being made Most Valuable Player of the big game, told reporter Gerard Romero that Barca players are waiting for club legend Messi to return.”We’re waiting for him with open arms. Who wouldn’t want to see Messi return to Barcelona? I won’t talk about it much because it’s up to club officials, presidents, coaches – but we, the players, are waiting for his return to Barcelona.”💣💣💣 pic.twitter.com/rorWhXJcmX— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) March 19, 2023 The victory over Real Madrid increased Barca’s lead at the top of La Liga to healthy 12 points, meaning they’re close to lifting their first title after a four-year wait. Having Messi back would make this year one of the best in the eyes of Barca fans worldwide – even if clouds of potential legal action and financial problems are visible in the sky over Camp Nou. It would be epic if they returned to the UEFA Champions League as champions of Spain, with Xavi Hernandez on the bench and Messi leading the team.##NAJAVA_MECA_7115475##While Messi’s future still seems open, one could argue that Paris is the least likely place for him. The fanatic Paris Saint-Germain fans protested venomously against Messi when his name was read out by the Parc des Princes announcer ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 game against Stade Rennais. The protests against the Argentine are a result of the team’s terrible showing in Munich last week and another painful Champions League exit. While nobody at the Parisian club is blameless – the fans focused all their rage and frustration at the World Cup winner. And it wasn’t for the first time. A year ago, Messi and Neymar had to endure similar treatment in the wake of their UCL loss to Real Madrid. The storm blew over that time – but this one is much more dangerous. The fact PSG lost the game to Rennes didn’t help their cause at all.PSG fans booing Messi. Shameless, most despicable, most miserable bunch of human beings supporting the most miserable club, only Madrid rivals their vileness.Video🎥 Via @BarcaNotes pic.twitter.com/tzmuGm368W— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) March 19, 2023 Sergi Roberto, who made it 1-1 against Real Madrid before Franck Kessie scored late to win the game for the Catalans, told the reporter that he couldn’t believe the rage directed at Messi.”I really don’t get it. He’s having a good season in Paris. He’s scoring goals and providing assists for the others. The loss to Bayern hurt them all, of course, but Leo is still a spectacular player and it’s sad to see such ace treated badly. If he returns to Barca, we’ll treat him very well.”Messi’s potential return to the club he spent almost his entire career has been on the lips of Barca fans and football lovers since the day he left to join PSG’s ambitious project. But it never looked realistic – no matter how romantic or “right” it might feel. But the combination of Barcelona’s return to the paths of glory and the lack of direction shown by PSG’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi made the reunion a genuine option.
