Atletico Madrid chief Enrique Cerezo has said that it would be ‘fantastic’ were both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to return to LaLiga.

Cerezo’s comments come amid mounting speculation that Messi could make a sensational return to Barcelona this summer, just two years on from departing the club in floods of tears after financial constraints conspired to scupper hopes of a contract renewal.

A return for Ronaldo, however, seems much more distant. The Portuguese departed Manchester United late last year under a shroud of acrimony after publicly criticising the club an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan.

He had wanted to remain in Europe but no suitable move transpired, leading to him heading east to sign for Al-Nassr on a two-year deal worth just shy of £400m.

Speaking at Barcelona’s Real Tennis Club, Cerezo told reporters that he would welcome the return of the two superstars who, through their own personal rivalry for much of the past decade, made LaLiga into perhaps the world’s best league for a time.

Atletico Madrid chief Enrique Cerezo has said it would be ‘fantastic’ if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi returned to LaLiga

Messi is reportedly close to a return to Barcelona after spending two years with Paris Saint-Germain

Cerezo seemingly risks the ire of his own club’s supporters following his comments

‘I think it would be fantastic if Messi returned to La Liga, as would Cristiano Ronaldo,’ he said. ‘Both are still playing and it would be fantastic if they came back.’

His comments might come as something of a shock to those connected to Atletico Madrid, with the two giants of Spanish football so often denying Diego Simeone’s team success over the past 10 years.

Ronaldo himself enjoyed a spectacular record against Atletico Madrid, scoring against them on countless occasions across the league, cup and, most notably, later rounds of the Champions League.

When supporters of Los Colchoneros thought they had finally been rid of Ronaldo, he dealt them a hammer blow one final time, scoring a hat-trick for Juventus to knock them out of the Champions League in 2019.

Despite Cerezo’s desire for Messi and Ronaldo to return, Javier Tebas, the LaLiga chief, has made it clear in recent days that the rules will not be changed to allow Barcelona to sign Messi.

Barcelona’s finances remain a closely watched entity, with Tebas insistent they must comply with the league’s financial fair play regulations after years of chronic overspending, which culminated in Messi’s departure in 2021.

Javier Tebas – the LaLiga chief – has said the rules will not be changed to allow Barcelona to sign Messi

The Catalan club must either cut the wage bill or raise significant sums, potentially as much as £180m from player sales, should they want to add to their squad this summer.

‘As of today, no, but there is a lot of time left,’ Tebas said when asked if Barcelona could currently sign Messi. ‘We are waiting for their [financial fair play] viability plan [for next season].

‘I hope they can make the necessary moves to make space for Messi to come in, but of course we are not going to change any rules for Messi to sign. Barca can make moves; they sell players.

‘That’s what we hope happens because I am a fan of Messi and I would like Messi to play in our league. But we won’t change any rules. It is complicated, but I think they have the capacity to do it.’