We have had enough drama in the last season – there had been so many memories to relish and the season ended with Italy coming back to the place where they belong while Neymar remained to the place from where he loves cheering for his friend.
But one topic, still, remains consistent every summer and which is Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona. Now, this drama has become quite monotonous for many – one of the most competent players in world football twisting his decision every time doesn’t look good.
The story
The latest update of this new “Messi leaving Barcelona saga” is that Barcelona Barcelona have announced that Lionel Messi is leaving the club after “financial and structural obstacles” made it impossible to renew his contract. The forward, who has spent his whole career there, had been expected to re-sign after his deal expired in June.
“Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations),” the club said.
“As a result of this situation, Messi shall not be staying on at FC Barcelona. Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled.
“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandizement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”
The Guardian reported, “Last month Messi agreed in principle to a five-year deal on reduced wages rather than a two-year extension initially discussed. It had been hoped the agreement would keep Barcelona within the boundaries of La Liga’s financial fair play regulations but that has proved impossible.
“Barcelona needed to move players out to renew Messi’s deal and they have not been able to find the solution. The club, whose total debt is about €1,173m, are constrained by the league’s salary cap. Messi has agreed to a 50% pay cut, dropping from about €45m basic, after tax, to closer to €20m.”
When Messi, who dished out another “leaving Barcelona Saga” last year, was keen to continue for longer, it appears that he is involved in yet another drama.
Barcelona’s salaries currently account for about 110% of their income and their president, Joan Laporta, has admitted, “We do not comply with financial fair play regulations.”
The reason
MARCA reported that the reason for this turnaround might be due to Messi’s demands on signings.
It looked as if Messi was due to have his contract renewal with Barcelona made official, but now there are a number of factors that see Messi have more than one foot outside the Camp Nou.
One of those requirements was to have Argentina teammate Cristian Romero join him at Barcelona, as Messi felt that the defender's signing would be a key move in strengthening the Barcelona squad and would also keep the team competitive throughout the 2021-22 season.
But Messi might have forgotten that in 2019-20 Barcelona’s salary limit was €671m, last season it was €347m, and the figure this season is substantially smaller again.
Salary caps in Spain, shorthand for limits applied to all pre-tax spending on the squad, are not subject to punishments handed out retrospectively but are applied in advance.
The reaction
The news of Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona has sent shockwaves throughout world football, with Neymar being one of the first to react on social media.
While the Brazilian didn't post anything to his social media accounts, he did react to TNT Sports' post of Neymar hugging Messi with the pair in Paris Saint-Germain shirts.
According to the Argentine newspaper Ole, Messi is astonished by what has happened after his father told him how the meeting with Barcelona's president went. And he cannot understand how it ended. Other than something magic happening, they report that Messi's time with Barcelona is over.
Right now the Argentinean public and media are shocked. Messi's continuity in Catalonia was taken for granted, especially as he was going to play with Sergio Aguero. The front page of Ole right now leaves no room for any misunderstanding “The end of a legend.”
Since Messi's departure from Barcelona become official - no members of the Barcelona team have taken to social media in reaction to the Argentine's decision.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta will address the media at 11 am CEST on Friday to clarify why Messi will not put pen to paper on a new contract with the club, just as it seemed like an agreement was reached.
Which club may Messi join?
During this COVID-19 Pandemic, it is really hard to think that any club would break their bank and sign Lionel Messi. Many of the bigger clubs are financially badly hit and thus, even though there are rumours circulating in the social media that Messi might join some other club, but it is hardly possible.
Paris Saint-Germain might be the club that could advance regarding the signing of Messi – still, they would have to allocate a place for him for the sake of Kylian Mbappe, and at present that would be highly impossible. Meanwhile, Manchester City have already signed Jack Grealish and they would be very much engaged in finding a place for the Englishman in the team along with Kevin de Bruyne. Now, if Messi joins Manchester City, the Blues have to sacrifice both De Bruyne and Grealish, which is another impossible matter.
Manchester United are the other club that might step up for signing Lionel Messi, but again, after signing Jadon Sancho, that possibility also wanes, and right now, United does not have the slot to sacrifice for Messi.
The last club that might step up is Juventus and of course, with someone like Cristiano Ronaldo around that would quite impossible and Juve are trying to rebuild and it would not be ideal for them to sign Messi and sacrifice the promising ones.
If this is not another drama and Messi really leaves Camp Nou then surely the best option for him would be, going back to his own country and play or join Major League Soccer – well, both the options are highly unlikely.
Conclusion
There could be another twist in the tale in this latest Messi saga. Messi knows very well that he can’t spend years as a free agent and the financial situation of the bigger clubs are such that none would be able to afford him and in the end, Camp Nou would remain the best place for him to hog the limelight and enjoy the life he wants. Messi and Barcelona complement each other better, thus, it is quite premature to think that, Messi would leave Barcelona this season.
Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 06/08/2021 Will Lionel Messi leave Barcelona, again?
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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