Almost since the moment he said a tearful goodbye to Barcelona, Lionel Messi has been linked with a sensational move back to Camp Nou.
Such speculation has increased in recent days, with Barca executive Eduard Romeu insisting that such a deal would be financially possible for the club, just two years after their financial state forced them to lose their greatest ever player on a free transfer.
Messi's contract at Paris Saint-Germain is due to expire next summer, meaning that Barcelona could get him back on a free transfer too, and recent reports have suggested that he has no intention of triggering an optional one-year extension in the French capital.
A blockbuster return for the 35-year-old could yet happen, then, and here Sports Mole looks at how Xavi's side could line up next season should that be the case.
With Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba seemingly heading for the Camp Nou exit door, a Messi return next summer could see him as the last surviving member of their golden generation, and with one of his greatest ever teammates as his manager.
Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona before leaving, in addition to winning 34 trophies and six of his seven Ballons d'Or, but his form so far this season for PSG shows that any return would be based primarily on footballing reasons rather than sentimental ones.
The Argentine maestro would go straight into the starting lineup too, despite some fierce competition for places on that right wing from the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha.
Any return to Barca would also see him form a dream link-up with a fellow legend of his generation in Robert Lewandowski - one of only two other men to have won the Ballon d'Or outside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since that duo's era of dominance started in 2008.
Complementing the aging, but still evidently capable, legs of those two would be some of the brightest young players in world football today - teenagers Ansu Fati, Pedri and Gavi.
© Reuters
All of them look on course to play a starring role in the next generation in football, and learning from arguably the greatest to have ever played the game would provide priceless experience before Messi eventually hangs up his boots.
There should be plenty of energy and ability in reserve too, with the likes of Ferran Torres and Franck Kessie among those adding squad depth to this Barcelona XI.
Frenkie De Jong could now be the long-term successor to Busquets should the Spaniard indeed leave the club next summer, although speculation over the Dutchman's future continues to swirl following a failed pursuit by Manchester United this year.
There is also a mix of youth and experience in defence, with Ronald Araujo establishing himself as Barca's number one centre-back and Balde enjoying a breakthrough season at left-back.
Jules Kounde has flitted between centre-back and right-back so far this season but will hope to nail down a regular starting role in his preferred position, although Hector Bellerin only signed a one-year deal with Barca this summer and so will need to impress if he is to still be there next season.
