Lionel Messi gives Barcelona boss Xavi transfer advice on PSG signing to avoid

Frank Lampard unveiled at Everton

Key numbers ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics

Rangnick comments on Pochettino to Man Utd links

Premier League title race: Man City maintain healthy lead at top

Ronaldo gifts Georgina Rodriguez ultimate birthday present

Novak Djokovic's mother: Australia keeping him prisoner

Every transfer deal done before the deadline

Cricket: Diversity comments from Middlesex chairman are 'garbage'

Businessman jailed over flight that killed footballer Emiliano Sala

Lionel Messi flew to Barcelona last month to dine with Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez and several of the Catalan club’s star players.

It was the first time Messi has returned to the city since leaving the club in his high-profile summer transfer to Paris Saint-Germain this summer amid reports he is unhappy with life in France.

The Argentine had enjoyed a break sanctioned by PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino and he opted to spend it with his former teammates.

Messi was spotted by paparazzi to be dining in a high-end Japanese restaurant in the Catalan capital, which was visited by Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets the same evening – alongside their partners.

Xavi was also in the building that night – enjoying a dining experience ahead of his 42 nd birthday and a short break from club football.

Naturally, Messi’s return to the city and decision to dine with the Blaugrana stars and new boss sparked a great deal of excitement.

It has not all gone the Argentine’s way since joining PSG this summer and he has netted just one domestic goal for his new club as he struggled to hit top form.

With Messi’s contract in the French capital expiring in the summer of 2023, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he does one day return to the Camp Nou.

Yet