Messi makes this signing easy for Barça, but Deco refuses: 'I prefer...'

Leo Messi doesn't miss anything that happens at FC Barcelona. Although he plays for Inter Miami, he still acts as an ambassador for the blaugrana club from afar.

He keeps a very close relationship with Joan Laporta and Deco, and he doesn't hesitate to offer his help whenever he can. On more than one occasion, he has made recommendations that could shape the team's future in the coming years.

One of the most talked-about has a name of its own: Julián Álvarez. Messi knows that Robert Lewandowski will leave the club at the end of the season and has suggested to the board that his compatriot would be the ideal replacement.

The connection between the two was more than proven in the Argentine national team, where they won Copa América, the Finalissima, and the Qatar World Cup together.

Julián Álvarez, the heir to the attack

The possible arrival of Julián Álvarez would solve a gap that greatly worries the sporting management. The Pole will leave on a free transfer and his departure will leave Barça without a top-level goalscorer.

That's why Messi has wanted to insist on a footballer he knows well and who, at 24 years old, still has a long career ahead of him.

The current Manchester City player is one of the most versatile strikers in Europe. He can play as a center forward, attacking midfielder, or even start from the wing.

That versatility is highly valued at Barça, which needs footballers capable of adapting to different systems. However, his signing won't be easy, as it will depend on City's willingness and the blaugrana finances.

A center back on the agenda

Messi hasn't only recommended a forward. He has also suggested strengthening the defense with Lisandro Martínez.

The Argentine, who plays for Manchester United, could fit perfectly into the profile sought by the sporting management.

After Íñigo Martínez's departure to Al-Nassr, the team needs a left-footed center back who can give guarantees to Hans-Dieter Flick.

The German coach still doesn't trust Ronald Araújo or Andreas Christensen as Pau Cubarsí's partners.

Gerard Martín's reconversion doesn't offer full security either, so the defense remains a weak point. Messi believes Lisandro can bring leadership, character, and experience to a locker room that has lost one of its references.

Bastoni remains the favorite

Despite Messi's recommendations, Barça have another name highlighted in red: Alessandro Bastoni. In fact, Deco himself reportedly has conveyed that he prefers the Italian over the Argentine. 

Thus, the Inter Milan center back is the absolute priority to complete the backline, although his price could be a problem. If the finances don't allow them to go for him, Lisandro Martínez appears as a more affordable alternative.

The board, therefore, keeps several options open. What is clear is that Messi's words still carry weight at the club of his life, and his suggestions could shape the sporting planning for the coming summers.