Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski revealed at a charity event on Tuesday that he would love to see Lionel Messi return to the Catalan club from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The 35-year-old World Cup winner left Barcelona in 2021 when his contract was not renewed, and his PSG contract expires in June.
Despite boos from PSG fans who see Messi as a reminder of the club's shortcomings in chasing star players rather than building a competitive team, Barcelona is openly wooing him.
"Messi is a Barcelona player, and his return would be incredible," Lewandowski said.
Did you read this?
"We know he has a place to call home in Barcelona." I'm still determining what will happen, but I hope we can play together again next season.
Messi is the club's leading scorer, and many consider him the best player in football history.
Barcelona fans have called out Messi's name in the 10th minute of their previous two matches, including a 0-0 stalemate against Girona in La Liga on Monday.
Lewandowski, La Liga's leading scorer, could not reach the back of the net for the league leaders and claimed to be injured.
"I suffered a hit from (Real Madrid defender Eder) Militao in the game against Madrid and I couldn't walk," Lewandowski said, referring to Barcelona's 4-0 Copa del Rey thrashing at the hands of Los Blancos last week.
"I need to improve on the field, but Militao's hit left my body in an unpleasant condition."
