Xavi betting on Leo Messi... talent at zero cost

The painful defeat against Madrid allows several conclusions to be drawn. The main one is that Barça is still a team under construction that lacks some foundations to be completely solid. They have a very good starting eleven but when they accumulate absentees (Christensen, De Jong, Pedri, Dembélé...) their performance suffers. Too much. The current squad has been enough for Xavi to dominate La Liga. And winning this title would be (will be, it cannot escape), of course, a great success that would give stability to the project. Although it has become clear that it has not been enough to compete in Europe. And in the Copa del Rey they have paid too dearly for their disconnections and defensive errors.

This Barça needs to sign more talent to continue growing and to be able to beat the big teams. But it faces the serious problem of fair play. It is essential to reduce the wage bill by 200 million euros to bring in new players. It is impossible to make this cut in just three months. That is why the Blaugrana club is preparing a 2-3 year viability plan that can be approved by Tebas. Given the brutal confrontation between the president of La Liga and Barça it will not be easy... but we have to try to get some oxygen. If Barça can get Tebas to loosen the noose, they will be able to strengthen their position. And that's where Messi's possible return comes in. 

Beyond settling a moral debt with the Argentine crack, the return of the best player in the world would bring that differential quality that Barca lack in midfield to overflow or give the decisive pass. Xavi is unashamedly backing Messi. He has even designed a plan (which he wants to share with Leo, with whom he talks regularly) to fit him into the team as the attacking spearhead of a midfield rhombus. Messi, who on Wednesday saw and heard the Camp Nou chanting his name in the 10th minute (he certainly doesn't miss any Barça game, let alone a clásico), is still mulling over his future and perhaps a return home is becoming more and more exciting for him... if the circumstances are right. Which, of course, do not yet exist. 

Bringing Messi back would bring a triple benefit: sporting (talent), economic (more sponsors) and institutional (reconciliation). But, I insist, everything must fit together. And, for the moment, it does not... For the moment...