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Lionel Messi is edging nearer to leaving Barcelona on the finish of the season.
Earlier this week, Blaugrana presidential candidate conceded to ESPN that he was “not very optimistic” about retaining the Argentine when his contract expires in June.
When Messi initially handed in a switch request final summer season, it grew to become clear that there have been solely two golf equipment in Europe with the monetary muscle to pay his wages – in extra of £500,000 every week.
PSG and Manchester City are the clear frontrunners, although the ahead has additionally been linked with a transfer to MLS.
The Parisians have a number of added pulls: a brand new period with the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, the chance of profitable consecutive titles and better of all, the presence of Neymar.
Nonetheless, Metropolis have lengthy hoped that Messi’s former boss Pep Guardiola may very well be the deciding issue.
In reality, it seems the Premier League outfit are so eager to signal the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, it’s already affecting their contract negotiations with their present star man, Kevin De Bruyne.
In accordance with The Athletic’s Sam Lee on the Why Always Us? podcast, the Belgian has primarily been supplied a pay reduce in actual phrases to depart funds for a potential Messi coup.
“Metropolis have managed to harass their greatest participant with a contract provide that is value lower than he is on for the time being due to probably attempting to signal Messi,” he mentioned.
Now, this may very well be a dangerous technique. Metropolis might alienate arguably one of the best midfielder on the planet, and at a time when there’s already uncertainty surrounding the way forward for their most high-profile participant, Sergio Aguero.
That will be a very dangerous transfer if all of it proves to be for nothing and Messi finally ends up going elsewhere.
Nonetheless, Lee suggestions De Bruyne to in the end signal the contract.
It is nonetheless obvious that Metropolis are making provisions to tug off what could be one of many greatest transfers in historical past.
That mentioned, PSG have been doing the identical. Per Robin Bairner of Football Transfers, the Ligue 1 champions began getting ready their shops for an inflow of Messi merchandise as early as December.
One membership goes to finish up bitterly disillusioned. But the scenario additionally reveals an perception into Metropolis’s monetary gameplan.
Like each membership, they’ve taken a success from the misplaced revenues of the final 12 months, but it surely’s doubtless they’re being significantly conscious about Monetary Honest Play having solely narrowly escaped a two-year ban from the Champions League.
Which means salaries should be rigorously thought of – therefore a decrease provide for De Bruyne.
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