Xavi: Barcelona will discuss Messi after our La Liga win

Barcelona head coach Xavi was puzzled by a question about Lionel Messi and Bruce Springsteen on Friday, but said the club would discuss a potential transfer for Messi once they win the title.

Springsteen performs concerts at Barcelona's Olympic Stadium on Friday and Sunday, while many Blaugrana fans would love to see Messi play his own greatest hits again in the city next season.

Messi is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign, with many rumors Barca could be looking to bring him back to the club where he scored 672 goals in 780 games.

During a press conference ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Real Betis, a journalist asked Xavi if he would see Messi at the concert.

"I don't understand the metaphor," he laughed. “We don't know if it's going to happen or not about Leo. It's very soon. We are focused on Betis and winning this league would give us a lot of stability. We'll talk about possible signings when we win La Liga.

"For Bruce, I'd like to go but I don't have tickets!"

Reports suggest the club will meet with La Liga officials to discuss the viability of Messi's return given Barca's continued financial concerns, but Xavi says the discussion will be broader than just centering on the Argentine .

"It's not just for Leo's possible arrival, it's to improve next year's squad," he said. "It's not an important question, there is a league to be won. Mateu [Alemany, the club's sporting director] informs us and in theory everything is going well."

With Barca leading La Liga by 11 points with seven games remaining, despite losing 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano last time out, Xavi challenged the idea that the season has been long, suggesting it has seemed longer last year when they finished 13 points behind champions Real Madrid.

"I don't understand why you say it's getting long," he replied to a reporter. "Last season was like forever. Now I look at the board and I'm happy. Sometimes I don't understand it. I'm having a great time in this league. Who wouldn't sign up for that?

"The other day we played the worst game of the season, but tomorrow is a good opportunity and there is hope to win. Last year was a long time."

On the defeat at Rayo Vallecano, he added: "Madrid lost the day before [4-2 in Girona] and it happens. You're not always going to be exceptional, it's sport. What it we have to do is react tomorrow and return to our game model and our values. You don't have to look back."

Barca confirmed on Friday that Andreas Christensen and Ousmane Dembele would return to the squad after recovering from injuries, much to Xavi's delight.

On Dembele, he said: "The injury was in a more difficult area to heal. He is fine and happy. We will see if we play him from the start or as a substitute, but that is very news. important to us.

"We missed him. He is the best one-on-one footballer, there are few in the world like him. Ask the full-backs in LaLiga who they prefer. He is a player with speed unbelievable, it's a differential. It's logical that we missed him."