Hitting the papers again Messi is refusing to extend his contract beyond this year and plans on leaving as a FA in 2021.
I could see Messi at man city if pep was in year 1 or 2. I just don’t see it now but there really aren’t many clubs that can pay his wages and more importantly share his ambitions. I just don’t see him leaving Barca but man have they fucked that team up. With what they have spent they should be the best team in the world with Messi.
I don’t think wages are even remotely an issue with Messi. He’s one player I’d be willing to bet a ton of clubs would open the books for. In terms of ambitions that’s a larger conversation and if he leaves Barca its strictly a money grab IMO. Also there’s absolutely no way in hell will he join any team in EPL.
1. There aren’t “a ton of clubs” even capable of taking on a salary like his. 2. There are even fewer that are gonna give $500K a week to a 34 year old.
1. He’s probably the most marketable player in the world. 2. It’s not a net negative investment. you probably hate him which is fine but he’s in the top percentile of players where I would disagree with what you said above. Any other player outside of maybe Ronaldo and I’d be on board with you.
It has nothing to do with disliking the player and everything to do with economics. He’s perhaps the greatest player ever but that doesn’t change the fact that humongous contracts for guys in their mid to late 30’s never work out. Outside of maybe City and PSG there aren’t any clubs that wouldn’t have to completely overhaul their books to even attempt to make it work.
If he does that now I’d be pretty disappointed TBH. Always viewed that as something he’d do similar to what Robben is doing now.
I’m not arguing that it would work out or be the right move to make. I wouldn’t want him at Arsenal for the reasons you stated. But there are certainly more than City and PSG that could sign him. Ozil makes 350 a week what the fuck is another 150 for a guy who is marketable and will certainly give you some goals?
I don’t see him wanting to play in France or England for whatever reason. And those are really the only other places that can pay him the wages he’d be seeking.
I think our definitions of “could sign” differ. I meant semi-reasonably of which there are maybe 5 or 6 (even though he’d never move to either Madrid club and Bayern would never blow up their wage structure) so more like 3 or 4. I suppose in some bizzaro world a club that’s so cheap they’re renewing David Luiz rather than actually buying a starting calibre CB could also make it happen.
not sure why leaving Barca would be a money grab. Barca keep overpaying for players that don’t fit the system/gel with Messi and now their books are fucked. there are teams that have better supporting casts than Barca and there are teams better off financially to build around Messi. I think he stays at Barca but there are better options if he wants to leave and have a better 2-3 year run at a champions league.
He agreed to an extension but never signed it. Now he wants to leave. I’ve seen Liverpool and Barca mentioned and a €35mil price tag.
€305K was the number I saw a few places but even so that’s still a long way from €570 or whatever the fuck Messi gets This is still the same club that let Kroos leave for next to nothing because he wanted €6M and appears ready to do it again with Thiago
I’m speculating, like if he feels criminally undervalued by them and their offer. I can’t see a way he leaves to be honest I think it’s just down to leverage.
I still don’t understand why they report it that way. Just tell me how much he makes annually, damn it.
barca gonna try to bring eric garcía back home this summer, apparently obviously part of a wink-wink swap deal for messi
Was listening to the Price of Football podcast (great stuff, btw), and they discussed it. Evidently, it’s rooted in a classist ideology from way back when that footballers were unskilled laborers, and so their wagers were calculated on a weekly basis like other unskilled laborers rather than calculated annually.
I wonder where he ends up. City makes sense if they aren’t banned from champions league. If they are, maybe Real Madrid? Liverpool?
The link to Pep is the only thing that makes sense. Doesn’t seem like a fit at all. Bought Rodri last Summer to go with Fernandinho and Gündogan plus KDB. Bernardo also plays centrally some and Pep has been saying all along that Foden is David’s replacement