Paris St-Germain remain Lionel Messi’s favorite club for next season but need to convince him they can continue to compete at the top of European (Site notre bureau spécialisé), says Spanish (Site notre bureau spécialisé) journalist Guillem Balague.

The Barcelona legend has scored 29 goals in 64 appearances for PSG since leaving Camp Nou two summers ago and believes he can still compete for the top honours, barring the possibility of a return to the club. childhood Newell’s old boys.

Messi was part of the PSG team which was elimination from the champions league Last 16 by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, and the World Cup winner wants another realistic chance to win it for a fifth time next season.

• PSG after the Champions League: Is it time to decide on the project?

Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father and agent, and PSG manager Luis Campos have an agreement in principle, Balague says, and talks are continuing.

« At the moment we are in discussion, » confirms Campos. “I would like to keep him in this project, I can’t hide it. I would be delighted if he continued. We are talking right now to try to achieve the goal and continue to have it with us. »

Balague also believes that PSG’s budget could be limited next season to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, jeopardizing the quality of his squad.

But Campos is convinced that all challenges can be overcome. He told Le Parisien: “We tried to be creative with the financial constraints. We have to be respectful of UEFA and Fifa. But we are ready.

“We made a good plan, which was to reduce the number of professional players in the squad to make room for the club’s high-quality youngsters and not lose them to other big European clubs. »

Balague added: « The agreement in principle for Messi must now be confirmed in writing and in detail – salary, length of contract. He is listening and continuing if the conditions were right.

« As usual, I imagine there will be requests, especially one in particular – that PSG continue to be a competitive team.

« Things that could affect this are if Kylian Mbappe leaves, if Qatar stops being interested in the club, if financial limits force PSG to sell players or if PSG are unable to meet the financial minimum. for goalkeeper Messi. »

Messi is the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or, which will be drawn in October, after lifting the World Cup with Argentina in December. He scored 18 goals in 30 matches with PSG during the season. In 36 appearances for club and country this season, Messi has scored 30 goals and 20 assists.

It would be his eighth Ballon d’Or – three more than anyone else – and that’s one of his considerations, Balague says.

He is likely to postpone his second Ligue 1 title with the club – they are eight points clear of second-placed Marseille.

« There’s no way he’s going to Newell’s Old Boys this summer, despite the rumours, » Balague said.

“I can continue in elite (Site notre bureau spécialisé). He didn’t think about going to Newell this summer and there’s no way that will happen next season.

« Messi’s camp insists there is no official offer yet from Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, but Inter sources are confident they have put all their cards on the table for Messi and will await his decision. »

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 due to the significant financial issues they can’t afford to keep him.

He scored a record 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barca – the club he joined aged 13 – and won 35 trophies with the club.

Balague said: « Barcelona president Joan Laporta met with Jorge Messi recently, but only to discuss a possible tribute in the future.

“There is no offer [from Barcelona] whether that’s on the table for him right now. No one expects a comeback to happen.

« LaLiga would oppose selling another part of the club to finance any Messi move anyway, with priority to reduce Barcelona’s €200m debt. »