Real Madrid legend Guti has insisted that if he was Lionel Messi, he would not return to FC Barcelona.
With Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain seemingly set to end on a bitter note following his two-week unpaid suspension, Barca now appear to have one less competitor in the race to sign the 35-year-old.
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Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal are now believed to be the only potential suitors remaining alongside the Blaugrana, with the club from the Middle East said to have offered the Argentine a mouthwatering £400 million (R9.3 billion) for just one season, according to Sky Sports.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will need to do shrewd business in the transfer market by selling several players in order to bring Messi back to the Camp Nou.
The Catalan giants are believed to have already put their plan to navigate their way around LaLiga's stringent financial fair play rules in motion, with recent reports suggesting they are open to selling Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Franck Kessie and Raphinha, among others, to make the Messi homecoming happen.
While many are keen to see the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner in the Blaugrana colours again, though, not everyone thinks it is a good idea.
Guti, who played 542 matches for Real and won 13 trophies with the Madrid giants, believes Messi's fairy-tale return to Catalonia should not happen.
"If I were Messi, I wouldn't go back to Barcelona," he told El Chiringuito.
"He already achieved everything there.
"It's too big of a challenge at this moment.
"Now, with or without him, Barca won't win the Champions League."
The Argentine's proposed return has already caused a stir at Barca's headquarters, with director of football Mateu Alemany having left his post this week after reportedly disagreeing with the move.
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According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, in order for Messi's transfer to the Spanish giants to be completed, he would have to take a pay cut and earn about €25 million (R506 million) a year.
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