It would be ‘fantastic’ if BOTH Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo make a sensational return to LaLiga, Atletico Madrid chief Enrique Cerezo claims as rumors of the Argentine’s return to Barcelona gather momentum
- Lionel Messi looks set to return to Barcelona this summer
- Enrique Cerezo said it would be “fantastic” if both players return to the competition
- Cristiano Ronaldo is just a few months into a multi-million pound Al-Nassr deal
Atletico Madrid chief Enrique Cerezo has said it would be ‘fantastic’ if both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo returned to LaLiga.
Cerezo’s comments come amid mounting speculation that Messi could make a sensational return to Barcelona this summer, just two years after leaving the club in tears after financial constraints conspired to dash hopes of a contract extension.
However, a return for Ronaldo seems much further away. The Portuguese left Manchester United late last year amid a haze of bitterness after publicly criticizing the club in an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan.
He had wanted to stay in Europe but no suitable move materialized, leading to him heading east to sign Al-Nassr on a two-year contract worth just £400 million.
Speaking at Barcelona’s Real Tennis Club, Cerezo told reporters he would welcome the return of the two superstars who, through their own personal rivalries for much of the past decade, made LaLiga arguably the best league in the world for a time. made the world.
Atletico Madrid chief Enrique Cerezo has said it would be ‘fantastic’ if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi return to LaLiga
Messi is reportedly close to a return to Barcelona after spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain
Cerezo is seemingly risking the wrath of his own club’s supporters over his comments
“I think it would be great if Messi returns to La Liga just like Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said. “Both are still playing and it would be great if they come back.”
His comments may come as a shock to those linked to Atletico Madrid, with the two giants of Spanish football having so often denied Diego Simeone’s team success over the past 10 years.
Ronaldo himself enjoyed a spectacular record against Atlético Madrid, scoring numerous times against them in the league, cup and especially later rounds of the Champions League.
When Los Colchoneros supporters thought they had finally got rid of Ronaldo, he gave them one last hammer blow and scored a hat-trick for Juventus to knock them out of the Champions League in 2019.
Despite Cerezo’s desire for Messi and Ronaldo to return, LaLiga chief Javier Tebas has made it clear in recent days that the rules will not be changed to allow Barcelona to sign Messi.
Barcelona’s finances remain under close scrutiny, and Tebas insisted they adhere to the league’s financial fair play rules after years of chronic overspending, culminating in Messi’s departure in 2021.
LaLiga boss Javier Tebas has said the rules will not be changed to allow Barcelona to sign Messi
The Catalan club will need to cut wage costs or raise significant sums, potentially as much as £180m from player sales, if they want to add to their squad this summer.
“From today, no, but there is still a lot of time left,” Tebas said when asked if Barcelona could currently sign Messi. ‘We are waiting for them [financial fair play] quality of life plan [for next season].
“I hope they can take the necessary steps to make room for Messi to come in, but of course we are not going to change the rules for Messi. Barca can make moves; they sell players.
“That’s what we hope happens because I’m a fan of Messi and I’d like to see Messi play in our league. But we’re not going to change any rules. It’s complicated, but I think they have the capacity to do it.’