Camp Nou clamors for Messi to return to Barcelona during rare loss to Sociedad

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With the Spanish league title in hand, Barcelona’s fans quickly moved on to what they want next: The return of their all-time favorite player.

“Messi! Messi! Messi!” resounded at Camp Nou — in minute 10 for Lionel Messi's old No. 10 shirt — during Saturday’s game against Real Sociedad that ended with a rare 2-1 loss to the Basque visitor.

The loss did little to dampen the festive atmosphere after the final whistle when Sergio Busquets as team captain received the Spanish league trophy from federation president Luis Rubiales and presented it to the crowd with his teammates. It was Busquets' 32nd and last title before the midfielder leaves Barcelona this summer.

Last week, Barcelona clinched its first major title since Messi had to leave due to the club’s wretched financial situation two years ago and join Paris Saint-Germain.

But with Messi set to leave Paris this summer, Barcelona’s fans are hoping – perhaps naively considering the likely blockbuster offer he could be dangled from Saudi Arabia – that the superstar will want to come back to the club he joined when he was 13.

Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism. He made a recent trip to the energy-rich kingdom where his former Liga rival Cristiano Ronaldo is playing on a lucrative contract that media reports put at a world-record $200 million a year.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has contributed to the rising expectations of the club’s supporters, even while insisting that the debt-ridden Spanish club cannot compete when it comes to wages.

Instead, he hopes the legacy of 35 titles, including four European Cups, Messi won with Barcelona will do the trick.

“With all due respect for Saudi Arabia, which is doing things well, Barça is Barça,” Laporta said this week. “And Barcelona is (Messi’s) home. This club can compete against the entire world. Our history and our 400 million followers are our strengths. We want Leo, but we will not be able to offer lots of money to bring him here. Our club is under an austerity plan.”

Barcelona needs to reduce its salary burden of nearly 650 million euros by at least 200 million euros to meet the Spanish league’s strict financial rules this summer, according to Spanish league president Javier Tebas.

Even so, Tebas has also said he hopes Barcelona can make it work to bring Messi back.

LONG TIME COMING

Alexander Sorloth helped Sociedad to its first win at Barcelona in the league since 1991.

The Norway striker stole possession from Jules Koundé and set up Mikel Merino for the fifth-minute opener. Sorloth added a second goal in the 71st.

Robert Lewandowski headed in a cross from Ferran Torres in the 90th for the striker's league-leading 22nd goal.

Barcelona had conceded only two goals at home in the league before its first home loss this season.

The victory kept Sociedad on pace to finish fourth and earn the final Champions League berth.

“We likely benefited from them having already won the title,” Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said. “(But) I believe we won because we played a great game against a good Barcelona side. Even if they were already in celebration mode, they can still beat anyone.”

EUROPEAN FIGHT

Fifth-placed Villarreal won at Girona 2-1 to stay within five points of Sociedad.

Nicolas Jackson continued his great form by setting up goals by Yéremy Pino and Gerard Moreno for Villarreal. The Senegal striker scored six goals in four games before turning playmaker at Girona.

Athletic Bilbao took advantage of Girona’s first loss in five rounds to move ahead of the Catalan side after being Celta Vigo 2-1.

Bilbao was in seventh place, the spot to be rewarded with a Conference League berth.

RELEGATION SCRAPS

Brazilian forward Lázaro Vinicius struck a first career hat trick to lead Almeria’s 3-0 win over Mallorca and take a step toward avoiding relegation. Almeria climbed into 13th place, four points above the drop.

Getafe managed to crawl out of the drop zone after drawing at home with already-demoted Elche 1-1. That pushed Valladolid into the danger zone, level on points with Getafe.

Espanyol was in second-to-last place at four points behind Valladolid and Getafe before it visits Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.

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