With Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi heavily linked with a return to FC Barcelona, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has been warned that he risks "spoiling his legacy like Cristiano Ronaldo has at Manchester United" if he seeks a homecoming in Spain.
Speculation continues to swirl around Messi's future, with his contract at the Parc des Princes set to expire at the end of the season.
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Various people at Barcelona, including president Joan Laporta, manager Xavi Hernandez and financial vice-president Eduard Romeu, have indicated that the door is open for the 35-year-old's return, with the latter even confirming that the move is feasible from a fiscal standpoint.
Messi, meanwhile, has remained coy on the matter, and is believed to be only interested in discussing his future after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Some reports in Spain have suggested he would be open to re-signing for his former employers, although his strained relationship with Laporta could remain an obstacle.
According to former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, however, the Albiceleste skipper would be risking his stainless legacy at the Camp Nou if he does go back to Barca, citing the example of Ronaldo, who has been limited to a bench role under new boss Erik ten Hag at United of late.
"Unfortunately, the number of times that a player has tried that – and you've just got to look at Ronaldo – the number of times players have tried that and it hasn't worked out..." he told ESPN FC.
"I'm trying to think, off the top of my head, one that did work out, and I can't come up with any.
"So if I'm Messi, just leave it the way it is.
"Ian Rush, there's one. Well, the difference is Rushy was 28, I think, when he came back [to Liverpool], it's a little different from being 35, 36.
Read: Man Utd star 'ignored' Ten Hag's instructions against City
"So no, I think Messi should leave everything he did at Barcelona the way it is and don't go back and spoil it. Because, for me, Ronaldo's spoiled a little bit of his legacy.
"The fact is he's sitting on his backside watching. People are going to remember that."
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