In these two years, Messi has won a French league and a
French Super Cup, and is on the way to winning another league. However, the
main objective of PSG behind bringing him to the team, the Champions League,
remains elusive. PSG have been eliminated in the last sixteen for two
consecutive seasons, losing to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.
The two sides met in Paris ahead of this match against
Bayern, but talks over a contract renewal have not progressed. Then, in
response to questions from Spanish newspaper Marker, Paris Saint-Germain
president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said about Messi and other players' contract
renewals, "We are working to keep them at the club."
However, the supporters of Paris Saint-Germain have already divided into two groups on the question of keeping Messi. Messi was booed by some fans at home to Rennes in the French league after being knocked out of the Champions League by defeat against Bayern. Apart from this, Lionel Messi is also in the dark about what is the future plan of PSG, what is his role in that plan. This is why the possibility of Messi leaving PSG cannot be completely ruled out. Moreover, recent statements by Messi's close friend and former teammate, Sergio Aguero, have also fueled the possibility. Aguero asked Barca president Juan Laporta to take the initiative to bring Messi back, saying Messi should retire at Barcelona.
"Messi grew up as a complete footballer in Barcelona, he should retire in Barca. I think if Laporta takes the initiative, if he talks to Messi personally, then maybe the chances of Messi's return will increase. In my opinion, at the moment Messi has a fifty percent chance of returning to Barcelona."
– Sergio Aguero, former Argentine forward But,
Does Barcelona really want Messi..!! Does Barcelona want Messi back?
As of March 31, there has
been no significant concrete statement from any Barcelona official regarding
Messi's return. However, on March 31, Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste spoke
about it, for the first time.
"We are in direct contact with Messi's camp. Messi
knows how much we like him, we will be happy if he returns. I was involved in
the contract talks with Messi two years ago, I know how painful it was for us
to let Messi go. Messi loves Barcelona - both the club and the city. We are
trying our best to continue his work of writing history at this club."
– Rafa Yuste, Vice President, Football Club Barcelona
Since Messi's departure in August 2021, president Juan
Laporta has repeatedly spoken publicly about his good relationship with Messi,
saying the club's door will always be open for Messi.
"When I took over, the situation at Barcelona was not
good. I had to make a difficult decision for the sake of the club. However, I
am trying to improve Barca's current relationship with Messi. Let's see what
happens in the future, but Messi knows that Barcelona's door is always open for
him."
– Juan Laporta, President, Football Club Barcelona
Sergi Roberto, the Barcelona midfielder and one of the
captains, said a few days ago that when Messi returns, he will be received with
utmost sincerity. Economic vice-president Eduard Romeu said last September that
Messi's return was financially feasible for Barca.
But Messi himself wants to return to Barcelona?
Messi wants to return to Barcelona?
The superstar, who won the World Cup in Argentina three
months ago, has not yet spoken publicly about his future, nor has he expressed
his desire to return to Barcelona. However, the buzz has taken a new dimension
since the publication of pictures of Messi's dinner with former teammates
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at a restaurant in Barcelona last February.
Before the last World Cup, it seemed that Messi might stay
at PSG for another season. From the sources around Messi, the possibility of
returning to Barcelona was very slim. However, since PSG's exit from the
Champions League, the tone of the sources around Messi has changed, they are
not ruling out any possibility. Sergio Aguero's words also have to be taken
seriously, everyone knows this legendary forward of Manchester City as a close
friend of Messi.
Now the question is, what will this potential deal actually
contain?
What could be in the Barcelona-Messi deal?
This is the most important question. Maybe Messi's future
depends on the answer.
Before leaving Barca in August 2021, Messi negotiated a
contract with Barca. According to that 'not done' contract, Messi was supposed
to receive a total of €10 million net in the first year. Messi later said,
“I don't know about the role of the club, but I tried my
best. Everything went well. I was willing to take a fifty percent pay cut. What
happened after that is a lie. And no one told me anything about it."
– Lionel Messi, former Argentine forward of Barcelona
Naturally, both sides have to start these discussions from
scratch. How much Messi will receive as a signing-on fee, or later as a
commission, will also need to be negotiated by the two parties.
In addition, Barcelona will play their home matches at the
Estadio Olimpico Luis Companies next season due to the renovation of the Camp
Nou. The 1992 Olympic Games were held in this 55,000 capacity stadium. It is
believed that Messi's arrival will give Barca various economic advantages in
this temporary stadium change. According to various club sources, a budget of
€90 million has been earmarked for the Camp Nou renovation. Barca are looking
to find a way to raise this money, naturally attendance at the new stadium will
be one of Barca's main sources of income. And what could create more appeal
than Messi's 'last dance' to leave the 'iconic' Camp Nou and go to a relatively
unknown, unfamiliar venue?
How will Barcelona pay Messi?
This answer is difficult to give right now. According to La
Liga president Javier Tebas, Barcelona will have to cut their salary structure
by at least 200 million euros to stay within the league's cap. But recently he
also said that Messi's return to Barcelona could happen if everything goes
well.
"If Messi agrees to take a significant pay cut at this
late stage of his career, he could return to Barcelona."
– Javier Tebas, President, La Liga
However, Barcelona sporting director Matteo Alemany said in
February,
"Our estimate is that our total payroll next season
will be within the La Liga cap. With the departures of Gerard Pique and Antoine
Griezmann, we have already cut costs by around €90 million."
– Mateu Alemany, Sporting Director, Football Club Barcelona
Barcelona will 'survive' from his huge salary if Sergio
Busquets, who is in the final year of his contract, does not renew his
contract. Although there are rumours, Busquets could stay for another year at a
much reduced salary. In addition, Clemen Longley, who currently plays at
Tottenham on loan, Samuel Umtiti, who plays at Lecce, and Sergio Deste, who
plays at AC Milan, are not in Xavi's plans. Selling them next summer would save
them a huge salary. However, Xavi's plans with Nico Gonzalez, who plays in
Valencia, and Abde Ejazuli, who plays in Osasuna, are not clear yet.
Messi's return is just for attention?
Given recent circumstances, it may seem so. After Gerber
Barcelona and La Liga, UEFA has also announced an investigation on the Negreira
issue. A conviction in the investigation could also lead to a ban from the
Champions League. Barcelona, however, have always denied all allegations.
But most importantly, Laporta spoke about Messi's return
last January, long before the Negreira-issue came to light. In an interview
with Spanish radio station Cadena Sar, Laporta said,
"I still have a relationship with Messi, despite his
camp denying this."
– Juan Laporta, President, Football Club Barcelona
Last February, Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge Messi
came to Barcelona on some personal errands. Then Laporta spoke directly to him.
“I met him. We talked about the situation. I congratulate
Messi for winning the World Cup for Argentina. Apart from this, there has been
talk about awarding him."
– Juan Laporta, President, Football Club Barcelona
When Club Gerber is on various off-field issues, there can
be no bigger trick than bringing back the biggest star in their history to
divert everyone's attention from those issues. And recently, as it is known
from various Argentine, Spanish and French sources, the return of Messi is very
possible.
Last February, Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge Messi
came to Barcelona on some personal errands. Then Laporta spoke directly to him.
“I met him. We talked about the situation. I congratulate
Messi for winning the World Cup for Argentina. Apart from this, there has been
talk about awarding him."
- Juan Laporta, President, Football Club Barcelona
When Club Gerber is on various off-field issues, there can
be no bigger trick than bringing back the biggest star in their history to
divert everyone's attention from those issues. And recently, as it is known
from various Argentine, Spanish and French sources, the return of Messi is very
possible.
Will Messi's return be good for Barca?
Moreover, it is still not entirely clear what exactly
Messi's role will be in the new day that Barca is dreaming of with young
talents like Pedri-Gavi-Balde-Arauho. Messi, who is going to complete 36 next
June, is certainly not Barca's 'future'! However, Xavi is not thinking too
much, he is much more eager to get Messi back in the Barca jersey.
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