Lionel Messi return to Barcelona is ON as he gives Xavi the go signal to bring him home

Lionel Messi’s emotional Barcelona return is ON after he gave Xavi the green light to bring him home.

The Argentine icon is out of contract at PSG in the summer and seems unlikely to sign a new deal with the capital club. That left the door open for Messi to return to his first love Barca and reunite with former teammate Xavi, now in charge of Los Cules and on their way to a first La Liga title under their ex-skipper.

Financial strife saw Messi do the unthinkable two years ago and depart the Catalan giants for the mega rich, Qatari owned Parisiens. He’s played his part in France, but hasn’t hit the astonishing heights he did in blue and red, jostling with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for top dog status. However, Radio Catalunya now report that the 35-year-old has told Xavi he wants to make the move back to the club with whom he’ll forever be associated.

And he’s set for a hero’s welcome as he returns a world champion. Messi led Argentina to the ultimate prize in football last December, beating Mbappe’s France in the World Cup final in Doha after a thrilling final that needed a penalty shootout to separate them.

Now his club career looks set for a fairytale ending - unless he decides to truly go home with a swansong cameo at formative outfit Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario.