Audio By Carbonatix
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club is Messi's "home" as they look to re-sign the forward this summer.
The Argentine's contract at Paris St-Germain expires in June, with reports linking him to Saudi Arabia.
But in an interview with Spanish broadcaster TV3, Laporta said Barcelona can compete with anyone for the 35-year-old's signature.
"History backs us, the feelings are too strong, we have 400 million fans around the world too," he said.
Messi left the Catalan giants two years ago after 21 years at the club but has struggled during his two seasons in France, with fans booing him after their 5-0 win over Ajaccio at the weekend.
Laporta said there had been an "affectionate conversation" between the two and that he congratulated Messi on winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.
"He is a Paris St-Germain player and we have to wait until the end of the season, until it is over, and then we can talk more calmly about this," Laporta added.
"With all due respect to Saudi Arabia, Barca is Barca, and it is home."
The comments come after Barcelona won their first La Liga title in four years with a 4-2 win over Espanyol on Sunday.
Laporta appeared to be more reserved than during a late night Twitch stream after the win, on which he is reported to have said the club would do "everything possible" to sign Messi.
Latest Stories
-
US Embassy hosts World Cup draw watch party, fans upbeat about Ghana’s chances
1 minute -
If Sammy Darko were in Police Service, he wouldn’t even be a Superintendent – Martin Kpebu
16 minutes -
Minister rejects claims of political bias as NDC Regional chair is named North East Best Farmer
25 minutes -
Notorious Ashaiman robber arrested in joint police operation
31 minutes -
OSP says probe into SML predates Manasseh Azure Awini’s petition
59 minutes -
OSP is acting lawlessly; it had zero jurisdiction to arrest Martin Kpebu – Kofi Bentil
1 hour -
The evolution of smokeless alternatives to smoking
1 hour -
Mahama commissions National Signals Bureau Regional Command in Ho
1 hour -
Helping adult smokers make better choices through harm reduction
1 hour -
Domestic Violence Secretariat trains market executives as paralegals in Bono Region
2 hours -
CPA slams PURC over 2026 tariff hikes, calls increase “unrealistic” and unfair to consumers
2 hours -
Martin Kpebu was unhappy with move to demand Adom-Otchere’s landed property – Lawyer
2 hours -
US jails Nigerian fraud mastermind for 20 years over nationwide bank scam
2 hours -
US jails Nigerian fraud mastermind for 20 years over nationwide bank scam
2 hours -
Senyo Hosi warns parliament against any move to scrap OSP
3 hours
