09 February 2023 , 11:08
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Lionel Messi's brother Matias has apologised to Barcelona fans after comments about the club where the Argentina star made his name.
Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, 35, spent the bulk of his career at Camp Nou before leaving for current club Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. There have been regular rumours of a return, with president Joan Laporta keen to bring the veteran back to Catalunya, but talks over an extension in Paris are ongoing.
Matias suggested his brother wouldn't return unless Laporta was axed, blaming the president for Lionel's 2021 departure amid financial issues at the club. He has since dialled back on those comments, though, with his brother's camp said to be displeased.
"I have a SPORT [Spanish newspaper] clipping stuck in my house that says, 'Messi should return to Barcelona ', and I subtitled it, hahahaha, we are not going back to Barcelona, and if we do, we are going to do a good cleaning," Matias said on a Twitch stream. "Among them, kick out Joan Laporta'.
"People did not support him [at Barcelona]. People should have gone out to do a march or something, let Laporta leave and Messi stay. The Spanish are traitors. I tell you because I want it to come out of our guts and not listen to things that are not true."
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Lionel Messi's camp set out their own position, distancing themselves from Matias. "They are exclusively the individual and personal opinion of Matías, which does not have to be or coincide with that of Leo or that of other relatives, friends or people close to him," representatives for the World Cup winner told ESPN.
Can you see Messi returning to Barcelona? Have your say in the comments section
Lionel Messi has been linked with a Barcelona return after his tearful goodbye in 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)After coming in for criticism for his words on the stream, Matias Messi clarified his position. "I want to apologise for what I said on social media, I was just joking with my son and friends," he wrote on Instagram.
"How can I think like that about a club as great as Barcelona is, which has given so much to my family and Leo. I want to say sorry to everyone, specifically to all Barcelona fans."
Lionel Messi's PSG future remains uncertain, after cryptic comments that "everything changed" after Argentina's World Cup win. There have been suggestions that the superstar could now end his career in Argentina or the United States after the trophy win, though PSG have made clear their desire to keep him at the Parc des Princes for another year.
Messi signed a two-year deal when arriving from Barcelona, and won Ligue 1 in his first season but fell short in the Champions League. PSG went unbeaten in the group stage this year but finished behind Benfica on the away goals tiebreaker, meaning they face a tough test against 2020 champions Bayern Munich in the round of 16.