BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Lionel Messi said he will return to live in Barcelona with his family when his time at Paris Saint-Germain is over and would like to help the La Liga club in the role of a technical director.
Messi ended a two-decade stay at the cash-strapped Spanish club, where he is their record scorer with 672 goals, in the off-season and joined PSG on a free transfer on a two-year deal.
"What is almost confirmed... is that we are going to live in Barcelona again and that our life will be there," the 34-year-old Argentinian told SPORT in an interview published on Monday (Nov 1).
"It's what my wife wants and what I want. I don't know when my contract with PSG ends but we'll go back to Barcelona to live.
"I always said that I would love to be able to help the club... I would love to be a technical director at some point. I don't know if it will be at Barcelona or not.
"If there is a possibility, I would like to contribute again because it's the club that I love and I would love for it to continue doing well, to continue growing and to continue being one of the best in the world."
Barca, who are ninth in La Liga, sacked coach Ronald Koeman last week, with Xavi Hernandez, Messi's long-time teammate during the glory years at the Catalan club, the favourite to replace the Dutchman.
Messi, who limped off injured in PSG's 2-1 win over champions Lille on Friday but coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful he will be available for this week's Champions League game at RB Leipzig, added that he has not given any thought about retiring after next year's World Cup.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner will be 35 by the time the World Cup - a trophy that has eluded him throughout his stellar career - comes round in Qatar next year. Messi is tied to the French Ligue 1 leaders until June 2023 - with the option of an extra year - and told the Catalan newspaper that retirement was not on his agenda.
"No, truthfully no," he said regarding hanging up his boots.
"After all that has happened to me, I just live day to day, year after year. I do not know what is going to happen at the World Cup or after it. I am not thinking about it. What will be will be at that moment."
