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Just a few weeks after he finally celebrated his first big title with the Argentine national team at the Copa America, Messi is now looking for a job after the failed negotiations with FC Barcelona.
And that – this has been the tenor of the media from Messi's adopted home for 21 years – involuntarily. A year ago he wanted to leave, with all his might and absolutely. But now everything had indicated that after a few weeks without a contract he would shortly be signing a new one. The media assumed that the six-time world footballer would sign a five-year contract with a hefty paycheck.
The Catalan broadcaster RAC1 reported that he had wanted to stay at Barca and had not negotiated with any other club so far, assuring that Messi was “deeply affected”. The failure of the negotiations was clearly not part of Messi's future plans.
Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have already been named as possible new employers for the Argentine in the international media. According to a report from Sky Sport Italia, there was even an initial contact with the top French club.
A blow for Barca – and Spain
Barca President Joan Laporta now wants to comment on the failure of the negotiations in a press conference on Friday morning (today). The official justification of the association – statutes of the league prevented a new cooperation – raises questions. One of Spain's most famous and respected football commentators, Julio Maldonado, wrote on Twitter: “This is a very hard blow not only for FC Barcelona but also for the league.”
Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid and the Primera Division three years ago, now it is likely to be Messi. “How could you put yourself in such a predicament?” Asked former English professional and now TV expert Gary Lineker.
Later that evening, FC Barcelona also published a video, a tribute to the player who came to Barcelona from Rosario in Argentina in 2000 as a 13-year-old and shaped the club like no other. Over seven minutes, just the best of Messi, who won 35 titles with the club, is the top scorer in the club's 121-year history with 672 goals and played 778 games. It won't get any more.
France's sports newspaper “L'Équipe” already predicted the “great soap opera” of this summer as far as the future club of the South American is concerned. The top candidate is likely to be PSG, where Messi would celebrate a reunion with his former Barcelona teammate Neymar and compatriot Angel di Maria. He has to decide. Messi has lived with his wife and three sons on the coast in Castelldefels south of Barcelona for a long time. So what now, Lionel Messi?
