Barcelona aren’t wasting any time in trying to lure Lionel Messi back.

Less than two years after Messi left Camp Nou, Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste revealed Friday that the club has been in contact with the World Cup winner’s representatives about a possible reunion after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires this summer.

“I am still gutted he couldn’t continue here,” Yuste said, according to Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN. “Of course, I would like him to come back because of what he represents on a sporting, social, and economic level.

“We are in contact with (Messi’s camp), yes. Beautiful stories should have happy endings, and there is a mutual love between the two parties.”

Messi developed into arguably the world’s best player during a nearly two-decade spell at Barcelona before his surprise departure in 2021. He holds a number of club records, including the all-time scoring mark with an astounding 672 goals.

Barcelona’s inability to afford Messi’s contract was one of the primary reasons for his exit.

It’s understood Barcelona would need to raise €150 million through transfers or cuts in spending to meet La Liga’s financial regulations, which would allow the club to sign players and complete contract extensions, Marsden and Llorens add.

“If all the conditions are met, we are open to the possibility,” Yuste added. “(Barca) president (Joan Laporta) has been with Leo’s father and there is a good relationship.

“Of course, there is no plan to go on the attack because we don’t want PSG to see it like that. If it happens, it will be because destiny takes you back to where you have to go.”

Barcelona manager Xavi is hopeful his former teammate decides to come “home” but acknowledged the final decision will be made by the 35-year-old, who hasn’t ruled out extending his stay at PSG. He’s also been linked with a move to Major League Soccer.

“A lot of conditions have to fall into place for it to happen,” Xavi said. “He’s won everything in the game and it will depend on his happiness. If he wants to come back, if that’s his intention, we will speak about it.”

At this point, what’s left to say about Erling Haaland’s scoring prowess?

Manchester City’s inevitable scoring machine tore RB Leipzig to shreds in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 match, scoring five goals in 57 breathtaking minutes. City won 7-0 to reach the quarterfinals.

The prolific Norwegian superstar became the third man in Champions League history to score five times in a single match. Lionel Messi, starring for Barcelona in 2012, and Luiz Adriano, playing for Shakhtar Donetsk in 2014, are the only others to accomplish the feat. Nobody has ever scored six times in one Champions League game.

Haaland was substituted just after the hour mark to thunderous applause from the home crowd inside the Etihad Stadium, ending his hopes of grabbing a sixth goal.

“It was a fantastic match, that is the only way to describe it,” Haaland said after picking up his inevitable Man of the Match award. “At this level, it’s my best ever game, but I once scored nine in a match.”

He added: “I told (Guardiola) I would love to score a double hat-trick, but what can I do?”

Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute. He doubled the advantage just two minutes later by reacting quickest to a rebound after Kevin De Bruyne’s ferocious shot struck the crossbar. The imposing striker’s second tally of the contest gave him 30 career Champions League goals, making him both the fastest and youngest player to reach that benchmark. Haaland, 22 years and 236 days old, needed just 25 Champions League games to hit the milestone.

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He then completed his fifth hat-trick of the campaign on the stroke of halftime, getting credit for a scrappy marker after Ruben Dias’ header hit the post and rolled along the goal line before Haaland blocked an attempted clearance to direct the ball into the net.

He wasn’t done there, though.

Haaland scored two more after the interval, bringing him to 39 goals in all competitions for Manchester City, breaking the club’s single-season record of 38 that was set by Tommy Johnson in 1929.

“He was so hungry,” explained Leipzig manager Marco Rose, who coached Haaland when the two were at Borussia Dortmund. “He scored goals with the foot, with the head, he won second balls, he made deep runs. It all looked really simple tonight. It was a special night for him.”