Lionel Messi notifies Barcelona of his intention to leave the club and the world is shaken. Millions of lines are written about the breakdown of a relationship that seemed unbreakable. Not even the hours have lessened the intensity of the impact. It is hard to digest. The trans-Andean has been at the club for a quarter of a century. There he came from Rosario as a child full of dreams. There he became the best footballer in the world.
Many questions also arise. From the reason for the decision to what his future will be. And one more: which team is in a real position to undertake the undertaking of signing the best and most expensive player on the planet? To assume the highest salary in the history of football (34.2 million dollars net per year), in a scenario of a falling salary ceiling due to the pandemic, and with the enigma of the transfer price. Free, if the player’s thesis succeeds (which would fatten his individual cache) or because of the stratospheric termination clause established in La Pulga’s contract: 700 million euros. Even another figure, somewhat more realistic, also makes it available to few: the 222 million euros that is talked about as a parameter, considering the valuation of Neymar’s transfer to PSG, the most expensive of all time so far.
The English team is one of the new rich in world football. Financed by Arab capitals, it has spared no expense to put together a squad full of glittering figures. Nor did he hesitate to tempt Josep Guardiola. In these two factors lies the well-founded suspicion that the English may accept the trans-Andean signing. Pep was the coach who got the best performance out of him and Messi may be the missing piece for the quality leap that puts them at the European forefront, the outstanding debt of the coach’s cycle.
The finalist of the last Champions League brings together several elements that can mean comparative advantages in the bid to stay with the best footballer on the planet. In principle, money is left over. Not for nothing do they hold the most expensive transfer in football history: the 222 million they paid for Neymar. Nor are they complicated to finance a millionaire workforce. The mention of the Brazilian adds another factor that can tempt Messi, who wanted him back at the Camp Nou. In addition, his recent campaign in the Champions League can motivate the trans-Andean to complete a formula that, with his contribution, the Orejona can achieve. The financial fair play that prevails in Europe would force it to empty a lot of staff.
The neighbor and archrival of City urgently needs to re-green old laurels on the front line of football on the Old Continent. Even reinstating himself in the dispute over the dominance of the Premier League, in which he has seen how the Citizens and Liverpool have displaced him. Money is not lacking. Despite the sporting problems they have suffered in recent times, they are still the richest club in the world, with annual revenues of close to 680 million euros. That is, it seems a matter of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer asking for it to activate the plan.
The Italian is another of the clubs that needs to get in tune with the main animators of the European leagues. This year, they touched the Europa League, in whose final they fell to Sevilla, the specialist in the tournament. The permanence of Antonio Conte guarantees the continuity of the project and the presence of Chinese capital, the financial backing to attempt the adventure. In fact, in recent weeks the interest in having Messi has been talked about almost as a matter of the eastern state. The fiscal situation that prevails in Italy favors large investments compared to other championships.
Absolute dominator of Calcio, Vecchia Signora also needs to make the leap in quality to reinstall it among the greats of Europe. Like PSG, they have also been able to make an impact in terms of transfers: they took Cristiano Ronaldo. The possibility of joining the Portuguese with the trans-Andean in the attack seems simply amazing. The Turin players start a new sporting cycle under the command of the historic Andrea Pirlo, who likes experienced players, prepared for the big challenges.
Damaged by the effects of the coronavirus and all, the merengue wallet still allows this kind of crazy stuff. They have already starred in the biggest case of transfusion in history with the signing of Figo. And that situation alone can mean an added incentive to drop the checkbook on the table, betting on future billing. There is no case: it does not seem viable that Messi is willing to squander his image like this.
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